Shoppers were confused after spotting the product on sale in supermarkets before Christmas and New Year’s Eve
Shoppers were scratching their heads after spotting Easter eggs on supermarket shelves before New Year’s Eve. With Easter Sunday not until April 20, 2025, customers took to social media to express their surprise at finding chocolate eggs and hot cross buns already on sale in shops including Morrisons, Tesco and Asda.
One Twitter user, @Jingle1991, posted a picture of Malteser Bunnies in Sainsbury’s on Christmas Eve, quipping: “Jesus hasn’t even been born yet.” Meanwhile, Gary Evans from Margate shared a photo of 85p Creme Eggs on display in his local Morrisons on Boxing Day. The 66-year-old told the PA news agency: “I just think it’s crazy that everything is so superficial and meaninglessly commercial… (there’s) something quite frantic about it.” Joseph Robinson spotted Easter confectionery including Cadbury Mini Eggs, and themed Kit-Kat and Kinder Surprise products at his local Morrisons in Stoke-on-Trent on Friday evening.
The 35-year-old admin support worker told PA: “It’s funny, as they’ve not even managed to shift the Christmas chocolates off the shelves yet and they’re already stocking for Easter,” adding, “I wish that supermarkets weren’t so blatantly consumerist-driven and would actually allow customers and staff a time to decompress during the Christmas period.”
When asked if he was tempted to buy any, Mr Robinson said: “As a vegan it holds no appeal to me! “.
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Mike Chalmers, a devout Christian from Chippenham, Wiltshire, offered a more measured response upon seeing a display titled: “Celebrate this Easter with Cadbury.”
The 44-year-old said: “Christmas and Easter are the two centre points of the Christian good news story so it’s no bad thing to see the connections,” adding, “It’s about more than shapes of chocolate though.”
Meanwhile, marketing consultant Andrew Wallis expressed his surprise at finding Easter eggs on sale at the Co-op in Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire, but also noted it demonstrated “forward-thinking” by major companies. “It made me reflect on how big brands are always thinking ahead and planning early,” said the 54-year-old Isle of Man resident, who offers marketing guidance to the fitness sector, speaking to PA.
He advised retailers: “My message to retailers would be: while planning ahead is important, it’s also essential to be mindful of consumer sentiment. ” He added: “Some might feel it’s too early for seasonal products like this but others might see it as a sign of forward-thinking,” and said: “Striking the right balance is key to keeping customers happy.”