Hot cross buns are already lining the shelves of some Tauranga supermarkets, while many residents are yet to finish their Christmas break.

Countdown stores across the country have been stocking the Easter favourites since January 2, with more than 9000 packets sold in the first two days.

Hot cross buns went on sale on January 2 at Countdown stores across New Zealand.

Select Easter eggs are also expected to be on sale by the end of the week.

Area manager Keith Whiteman says hot cross buns are selling in all Countdown stores in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui – and Easter-themed chocolates have been ordered in this week.

'It's pretty normal. We've done it for the last few years.”

The early sale surprises Mount Maunganui Nosh Food Supermarket manager Jamie Blennerhasset, who doesn't begin selling hot cross buns until about six weeks prior to Easter.

Easter eggs arrive at Nosh about three weeks before the holiday.

'I don't think it is unusual for them [Countdown] to have hot cross buns but it's probably unusual for them to be blatantly advertising them.

'A number of places will sell them all year round because obviously they're just a cinnamon fruit bun that people like to eat.

'But I think where it is a little bit unusual is that they're being placed at the front of the store and being promoted quite heavily. So that's definitely where things are a little bit different.”

Jamie says the seasonal treats make up a fair percentage of Nosh sales, but could not say exactly how many Easter eggs and hot cross buns the store sells each year.

'We probably sell a lot more hot cross buns than we do Easter eggs. But they're obviously both quite popular for a seasonal time of the year.”

Countdown communications advisor Kate Porter says hot cross buns have been selling at Countdown stores in the first week of January for about five years.

She believes the January sale started when Easter came early one year.

'Hot cross buns are hugely popular in our stores and between now and Easter our bakery teams will make and sell more than 10 million buns to customers across the country.

'They've gone on sale in early January for at least the last five years, and each year there's demand with more than 9000 packets sold in the first two days this year.”