Not cross bun

A not cross bun is a variation on the hot cross bun. It uses the same ingredients but instead of having a 'cross' on top, it has a smiley face in reference to it being 'not cross' or 'angry'. The not cross bun was first sold commercially in 2014 by an Australian bakery, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, in response to supermarkets selling hot cross buns as early as Boxing Day (26 December).

Not Cross Buns - Fresh from the oven

The not cross bun was created as a public relations tool to raise awareness about the unseasonably early sale of hot cross buns by major supermarkets. They were made available from Boxing Day until six weeks before Easter, after which time they reverted to being hot cross buns.

History

In many countries, large supermarkets are baking hot cross buns earlier and earlier, and there is evidence of a growing number of customers who are unhappy about the Easter tradition being taken advantage of commercially. The first commercially sold not cross bun was baked in 2014 by Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses as a way to send a message to the offending retailers that the early sale of hot cross buns was negatively impacting the tradition of Easter.

In 2015, the Baking Association of Australia and the Craft Bakers Association of Britain agreed that a respectful time for starting hot cross bun production was approximately six weeks prior to Easter Sunday. This timing roughly aligned with the traditional Lent period.

On Monday 21 December 2015, a public protest against the early sale of hot cross buns was held in Melbourne by bakers from across Australia and garnered significant media and public support. Not cross buns were handed out to help deliver the message to the supermarkets and would remain on sale in participating bakeries until six weeks prior to Easter.

Steve Plarre addresses the crowd backed by Victorian bakers