Mince pie sales already top £4m

THE clocks have yet to change and Halloween is two weeks away – yet the nation has already spent £4million on mince pies.

Another £1.1million has been spent on Christmas puddings, say retail analysts Kantar Worldpanel, as retailers go to extreme lengths to extend the festive period. Much like hot cross buns, supposedly an Easter treat, mince pies can now be found on shelves for months before and after their appropriate season.

But while Christmas puddings have a long shelf life and can improve when left to mature, many of the mince pies that have been sold will have a use-by date long before December 25.