At this time of year, UK supermarkets tend to start stocking up with all sorts of special products and delicacies ahead of the festive season. But while Tesco, Waitrose and others are filling aisles with luxury mince pies, egg nog and all the usual Christmas goodies, Sainsbury’s has bucked the trend by launching some slightly more ‘exotic’ treats this Christmas.

According to a report in Sky News, the retail giant has broken new ground this winter by becoming the first UK high street supermarket to stock ‘edible insects’.

As of Sunday 18 November, as many as 250 stores all across the UK have begun selling ‘smoky BBQ crunchy roasted crickets’ and other equally leggy treats at the recommended retail price of £1.50 per packet.

The products, which are manufactured by alternative snack group Eat Grub, have reportedly been on sale on Ocado and other online shopping websites for several months, but this is the first time they have made it into a mainstream store – attracting mixed reviews from bemused customers.

Shami Radia, Co-Founder of Eat Grub, said: “Currently, insects are eaten and enjoyed by two billion people worldwide.

“We’re on a mission to show the West that as well as having very strong sustainability and environmental credentials, they are also seriously tasty and shouldn’t be overlooked as a great snack or recipe ingredient.”

According to recent research, around 10 per cent of Britons have tried edible insects – more than half of whom claim that they enjoyed eating them and would be happy to purchase them again.