Corner Shops Are Being Told Not To Sell Easter Eggs

If you've been popping to the corner shop to top up on essentials during lockdown, we have some news that might affect your Easter plans.

According to reports, some local convenience stores have been told not to sell Easter eggs during the coronavirus crisis as they are not 'essential items'.

Although 'non-essential' shops have been told to close, corner shops and convenience stores are allowed to remain open, but the government hasn't clarified what items they can and cannot sell.

Now, some shopkeepers in Surrey and Buckinghamshire have reported that local authorities have been telling them they cannot sell the seasonal chocolate eggs, as they're not deemed to be essential products (debatable...)

The thought of cracking open an Easter egg next weekend is one of the small joys we have to look forward to in the age of coronavirus - and luckily, the 'ban' seems to have been caused from confusion and misinformation.

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James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), told BBC that there is "no definition of which products can be sold" adding that only a few shops had been given the guidance.

"In the cases where officers have challenged retailers and shoppers in this way, it's brought confusion, distracted retailers in the busiest weeks of their lives, and increased the interactions between people," he said.

"Our published advice to retailers - that they can sell whatever they would normally be selling - can be relied on by anyone signed up to our assured advice scheme."

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Added to this, a spokesperson for prime minister Boris Johnson confirmed that if corner shops were deemed essential enough to be allowed to stay open, they can sell whatever they want - including chocolate eggs.

"We have set out which shops can remain open," said a spokesperson.

"If a shop is allowed to remain open it will of course, sell whatever items it has in stock."

After lockdown measures were introduced in the UK last week, the government released a list of 'essential retailers'.

These include: supermarkets and other food shops; pharmacies; off-licences; petrol stations; newsagents; bicycle shops; home and hardware stores; laundrettes and dry cleaners; garages; pet shops; post offices and banks.

Topics: Life News, News, Coronavirus

Lucy Devine

Lucy is a journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she has worked in both print and online and is particularly interested in fashion, food, health and women's issues. Northerner, coffee addict, says hun a lot. Get in touch at [email protected].

@lucedevine