A shopper has been left baffled after spotting Christmas-themed Colin the Caterpillar and Percy Pigs on M&S shelves – months ahead of the festive season.
The strange set-up was spotted by 28-year-old Alex, who had popped into the Marks & Spencer store on Brixton Road, London, with a friend to pick up baked goods yesterday (19 September).
Eyeing up the shelves, the pair discovered the jolly products including Percy Pig Merry Percymas and Colin the Caterpillar Candy Cane – slotted right next to the Halloween-themed snacks from the same brand.
“It’s pretty outlandish to have a Christmas Caterpillar on the same shelves as the Halloween sweets before September ends,” Alex, who lives in east London, told Jam Press.
“But I guess that’s London for you.”
Albeit curious about the flavour, Alex and his friend decided to ditch the Christmas-themed Colins and Percys in favour of the spooky Super Sours because “it’s just too early for Christmas”.
Online shoppers may be left disappointed as the December items do not seem to be available on the M&S website yet.
Fans of the Colin sweet treats can, however, purchase the Christmas Colin The Caterpillar Letterbox for £20, which features the candy cane-flavoured product, as well as “Fruit Gums, Fruit Sours, Santa Chocolate Faces, and a mini plush Colin the Caterpillar”.
But delivery doesn’t begin until 31 October.
There is also a festive Colin The Caterpillar Hanging decoration available for £6 or a Percy Pig tree topper for £10.
The discovery comes weeks after other shoppers spotted Morrisons selling mince pies during the UK heatwave in a branch in Fleet, Hampshire.
As the country was hit by a 31C (87.8F) heatwave, the supermarket giant was flogging a variety of festive treats.
“It seems mad to be selling them so far ahead of Christmas,” one shocked customer said.
Barmy Morrisons bosses said it is doing it because shoppers like them so much.
A Morrisons spokesperson: “We start selling mince pies a few months before Christmas because our customers tell us they really enjoy them.”
