Kiwis a Bunch of Hot Cross Bun Buffs, Survey Reveals

31 March 2015

Kiwis a Bunch of Hot Cross Bun Buffs, Survey Reveals

A recent survey into New Zealand’s Hot Cross Bun preferences has revealed that we are avid connoisseurs of the Hot Cross Bun, proving ourselves Hot Cross ‘enthusiasts’, in comparison to our Australian counterparts.

The survey, conducted by Bakers Delight, aimed to ascertain whether Hot Cross Buns should be made available all year round, in two separate studies conducted in Australia and New Zealand.

The survey, that gathered responses from 1,051 residents across the country, found that over a quarter of New Zealand respondents (26 per cent) are happy to buy Hot Cross Buns at any time of year.

A similar study undertaken by Bakers Delight in Australia, found that Aussies were less likely to purchase outside the regular Easter period, with only 21 per cent claiming that they would purchase at any time of year.

Kiwis were also more enthusiastic Hot Cross Bun consumers, with 20 per cent of respondents buying over two dozen Hot Cross Buns over the Easter period, compared to 12 per cent of Australians.

One person not surprised by the avid response from her customers is Gate Pa Bakers Delight baker Beate Sommer who bakes the buns from scratch every day.

“I speak to customers on a daily basis and Hot Cross Buns are of course a hot topic at this time of year,” Ms Sommer said.

“We Kiwis do love our buns, I’m not surprised that we seem to enjoy them more than the Aussies. There’s just something special about sharing a bun or two with your friends and family at Easter.”

In readiness for the Easter period, Bakers Delight bakers undertake annual training and baking master classes to perfect their Hot Cross Buns at the start of every year according to Bakers Delight NZ Country Manager Xavier Barnsley.

Preparation is key for the bakers who bake from scratch early every morning to produce the freshest Hot Cross Buns possible for customers each day.

“There has been talk about making the Hot Cross Bun available all year round,” Mr Barnsley said.

“But until the majority of our customers tell us that they want their Hot Cross Buns in June, we’ll stick to baking fresh every morning, and keeping alive a little of that Easter spirit.”

Bakers Delight will bake over 860,000 Hot Cross Buns from scratch this Easter, with the majority being baked and sold on Holy Thursday, the day before GoodFriday. Bakers Delight uses nothing but the best quality ingredients.

The survey also revealed that:

- 45 per cent of Christchurch residents prefer to buy their Hot Cross Buns only at Easter time

- The majority of Wellington residents (52 per cent) agree that Hot Cross Buns taste good at any time of year

- 17 per cent of Kiwis said that they actively buy Hot Cross Buns in the weeks leading up to Easter to get into the Easter spirit

- North Islanders were the most likely to indulge, with 67 per cent of Waikato residents purchasing upwards of a dozen buns across the season

- Otago residents were the most likely to forego tradition, with 36 per cent admitting that they would buy buns at any time of year

- Freshness is the most important quality for respondents, with 47 per cent naming it as the top priority when choosing Hot Cross Buns, followed by the quality of the ingredients (34 per cent). Cost and size of buns were least important factors in the purchase decision

- ENDS -

About the survey

The survey was conducted by Perceptive on behalf of Bakers Delight from a population sample of 1,051 New Zealand Residents. Respondents were aged 18 years and above. The survey was nationally representative. The Australian survey was conducted from a population sample of 1,020 adults.

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