Two bishops have spoken out against what they claim is the failure of major retailers to support the only Christian chocolate Easter egg, despite demand from shoppers.
It is claimed that some stores including Waitrose have only ordered small numbers of the Real Easter Egg this year, despite being “inundated” with requests last Easter when the product was launched.
In addition to telling the story of Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection on the box, the religious egg is made from Fairtrade chocolate and 15p from each £3.99 sale is donated to charity.
The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, said: “There seems to be a clear-cut agenda to keep credible products with any connection to Christianity off the shelves. But it is vitally important that our children are not cheated of the chance to hear the Easter story.
“Last year churches and schools campaigned with their wallets and ordered tens of thousands online and complained to supermarkets which were not stocking enough. If we have to continue to campaign to establish The Real Easter Egg by placing orders online or supporting independent retailers, then so be it.”
The Bishop of Middleton, the Rt Rev Mark Davies, added: “We thought we had proven that people were not afraid to buy an Easter egg which mentions Jesus, gives money to charity and which helps in communicating the true meaning of Easter. It seems incredible that the only Easter egg gift on the market which caters for the Christian community is rejected or marginalised by our biggest retailers.”
Made by The Meaningful Chocolate Company in Manchester, the Christian egg was launched last year with more than 70,000 sold by mail order to schools and churches as well as families.
Developers say it sold out quickly in the Traidcraft and independent shops that stocked it, as well as in some supermarkets.
But they are disappointed by low levels of orders made by high street shops this year.
A spokesman for the company said: “Out of the 80 million Easter eggs on sale this year nearly all will be secular, made from non-Fairtrade chocolate and with no charitable donation.”
It comes after claims that supermarkets are ashamed of selling Christmas cards with religious themes in case they offend non-Christians.
Waitrose said: "With all of our products it is important that we look at customer demand before deciding the quantities we sell. Whilst the Real Easter Egg will be in a smaller number of our branches this year we are pleased to be able to offer it to customers in our larger shops."
Made by The Meaningful Chocolate Company in Manchester, the Christian egg was launched last year with more than 70,000 sold by mail order to schools and churches as well as families.
Developers say it sold out quickly in the Traidcraft and independent shops that stocked it, as well as in some supermarkets.
But they are disappointed by low levels of orders made by high street shops this year.
A spokesman for the company said: “Out of the 80 million Easter eggs on sale this year nearly all will be secular, made from non-Fairtrade chocolate and with no charitable donation.”
It comes after claims that supermarkets are ashamed of selling Christmas cards with religious themes in case they offend non-Christians.
Waitrose said: "With all of our products it is important that we look at customer demand before deciding the quantities we sell. Whilst the Real Easter Egg will be in a smaller number of our branches this year we are pleased to be able to offer it to customers in our larger shops."