CO-OP shoppers are divided over a limited-edition flavour hot cross bun that some say is “sacrilege”.
The retailer has launched a savoury take on the traditional Easter treat – with an extra spicy kick.
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The “Seriously Spicy Hot Hot Hot” cross buns are flavoured with dried jalapenos, chilli peppers, birdseye chilli powder and sweet chilli sauce.
A change from the usual fruity flavours, this new offering from Co-op is causing quite a stir on social media.
One eagle-eyed shopper spotted the Easter treat in stores and posted a picture to the Food Finds UK Official Facebook group.
The post read: “NEW Seriously Spicy Hot Hot Hot cross buns limited edition spotted in Co-op.”
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The post was flooded with comments from other food fans, but opinions were quite divided.
One person wrote: “I like hot cross buns but this is sacrilege, they should be sweet, not savoury.”
Another added: “This is a travesty!”
While a third commented: “I can confirm they are great toasted with butter and cheese.”
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The hot cross buns are showing online at £1.60 for four, or £1.45 if you are a Co-op member.
The product is available to buy online as well as in-store but bear in mind there is a minimum spend of £15 when shopping online.
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To find your local Co-op store you just need to put your postcode into the website and it will bring up the closest one to you.
Co-op is not the only retailer that has been introducing wacky flavour hot cross buns.
Each year that passes the choice of flavours available in the Easter favourite becomes even more extraordinary.
This year you can get everything from banoffee and Belgian chocolate to sticky toffee and strawberries with clotted cream.
This is a travesty!
Social Media user
With every new flavour comes controversy as some traditionalists think that the original should never be messed with.
Whereas some sweet-toothed shoppers are happy to try out every new concoction on the shelves.
Whether it is sweet or savoury that takes your fancy there is something to suit everyone’s tastes, but are they as good as they look and sound?
We put some alternative supermarket flavours to the test – and our taste tester said the winner was worth every penny.
If you cannot be swayed from the traditional hot cross bun we also tested eight “normal” supermarket versions – and the winner of this test scored 10/10 on both taste and value.
What are the benefits of being a Co-op member?
Co-op made a major change to its rewards scheme back in January.
The retailer used to reward its customers with 2p for every £1 spent on the retailer’s own-brand goods.
However, now members get exclusive member prices across food, insurance, funeral care and legal services.
Customers who already have money in the scheme will have until the end of 2024 to spend their cash.
At the same time it made the change to its loyalty scheme, the retailer also announced plans to grow its membership programme.
The supermarket chain said it plans to double the amount of member price lines available and will include brands for the first time.
Its member prices are different to other supermarket loyalty schemes because it has a fixed list of products to which member-only prices are applied.
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Unlike at other supermarkets like Tesco, the member prices do not change every promotional period or flex on availability.
Co-op membership costs £1 and customers get personalised offers weekly depending on what they buy.
How to save on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
