Coles has released egg-citing new data that reveals which state is buying the most hot cross buns this Easter, with the spiced staple expected to hop out supermarket doors in record numbers having already sold more than 49 million since Boxing Day.   With 61 percent of Coles customers planning to eat hot cross buns this Easter. The supermarket is anticipating its biggest year yet for hot cross buns sales with 70 million anticipated to sell this season, including 21 million over Easter week alone. A state versus state rivalry for the title of Hot Cross Bun Capital is underway with Coles data revealing as of Tuesday 26 March.

• Victoria is in the lead of the doughy showdown with more than 13 million hot cross buns through the checkouts and the Coles Taylors Hill bakery working hard to serve up more than 26,000 hot cross buns packs to customers, more than anywhere else in the country. Coles Waurn Ponds and Coles Berwick are close behind with more than 25,600 and 23,900 bun packs sold respectively. 

• Continuing the bun-anza is Queensland, where the Sunshine State’s love for hot cross buns is shining brighter than ever with more than 12 million buns sold statewide and an incredible 24,700 packs sold at top-selling store, Coles Carindale, more than 21,000 packs at Coles Gympie and more than 20,900 packs at Coles Nambour.
  
• Coming in third is New South Wales, which is putting up a fierce fight, with hot cross buns proving to be a staple in households with more than 10 million buns purchased across the state. Coles stores in Penrith, Eastgardens and Hornsby are the top-sellers with more than 21,300, 20,300 and 19,600 bun packs sold respectively.
  
• Proving that last is certainly not least, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory customers have enjoyed more than 12 million buns between them, with Coles Victoria Park East in Western Australia outselling stores in the other states and territories with more than 25,800 bun packs, and the Victor Harbor and Warwick Grove stores in South Australia and Western Australia close behind with 23,400 and 21,700 bun packs sold respectively. 

When it comes to flavour preference, traditional fruit and chocolate continue to reign supreme as the top-selling bun in every state except South Australia, where a unique favourite emerges for the fruit free variety as their second favourite type of bun.  Coles General Manager for Bakery Kate Roff said the bakery team had been working hard to offer delicious tasting buns this Easter.  “At Coles, we take great pride in creating delicious hot cross buns — from selecting quality ingredients to ensuring each bun is baked to golden perfection, because we know nothing says Easter like a hot cross bun,” Roff commented “It’s incredible to see the passion and enthusiasm from our customers enjoying buns in great numbers, and we’re always up for some friendly competition between the states – but Victorians have claimed victory as the Hot Cross Bun Capital this Easter season.”. Coles is offering a bun-derful variety of traditional fruit, chocolate, apple and cinnamon, and fruit free hot cross buns, as well as gluten-free traditional and chocolate varieties.