Shopping

Shoppers shocked to spot Easter chocolate on UK supermarket shelves before new year

"He's not even been born yet."

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 31st December 2024

A handful of UK supermarkets have already started stocking the shelves with Easter chocolate, and shoppers are losing their minds over it.

We may be in the middle of the so-called ‘twixmas’ period right about now, with Christmas Day almost seeming like a distant memory, our minds casting forward to the new year, and nobody really having any idea what day it is… but surely time hasn’t fast forward to spring already? Well, a walk around your local supermarket might have you thinking otherwise.

The immediate days following the big day itself is usually when we see shops slash the price of the remaining Christmas chocolate in a bid to try and shift it off the shelves, and it usually means you can grab yourself a bargain if you’ve still got some sugar cravings to satisfy.

But once again this year though, just like in years previous, it appears as though some supermarkets might’ve skipped this step all together and moved straight on to selling Easter chocolate.

Bags of Cadbury Mini Eggs, boxes filled to the brim with Creme Eggs, and lots of other Easter treats have been spotted on the shelves at several supermarkets nationwide, and it’s fair to say it’s left people a shocked and confused.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many have been taking to social media to share their thoughts on the madness.

Sure, we all know us Brits do love to complain, but we can probably all agree that this time it’s warranted, right?

ADVERTISEMENT

“It’s not even the new year and the Easter chocolate is out. Why?,” one person wrote on X, while another added on a similar note: “It’s happened already, the local stores have just put their Easter eggs out next to the Christmas gifts.”

Some, on the other hand, seem to be a little more excited at the arrival of Easter chocolate and are even planning on “stockpiling” their favourites.

“Is it too soon to start stockpiling Easter eggs? That chocolate just hits different,” one person said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more:

“Easter chocolate is the best,” another added on X.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

Shopping

Stockport institution Yu & Me announces closure after 30+ years

Danny Jones Danny Jones Yu & Me closing down Great Moor shop Stockport

Stockport is preparing to say goodbye to one of its shopping veterans as the once-popular hardware store and discount retailer Yu & Me is closing after more than three decades.

The beloved bits and bobs shop catered to virtually everyone’s needs, selling everything from homeware and DIY to garden furniture and toys, as well countless other essentials and random nicknacks, serving generations of Stopfordian families to earn a legendary local reputation.

However, the “handyman’s paradise” – which has also been described as everything from “Aladdin’s Cave” and a “gold mine”, to the place you go for “everything you didn’t know you needed” – is now set to shut down for good at the start of the new year.

Announcing the closure on social media, owner Warner Yu confirmed that 5 January will be their final day of business.

Credit: Warner Yu (via Facebook)
Credit: AEW Architects via SMBC planning

The shop, located on Buxton Road in Great Moor, is set to be part of the expansion plans laid out for the Co-op situated next door, with the building set to be demolished and redeveloped from the ground up following a recent planning application.

Writing in the post shared on Boxing Day, Yu said: “Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and has a great new year, All the best to all our wonderful Customers.

“Sorry but we will be closing down on the 5th of January 2025 as our lease has finally run out. ‘The Great Yu and Me Sale’ is now on until then. Wish you all the best and thank you for everything.”

The comments were flooded with love, support and sadness, with one person writing. “Oh no this isn’t what I wanted to read. What will I do without you guys? My heart is broken, at least your dad will be able to relax, he is a wonderful man – end of a special era.”

Another said in a lengthy response: Really awful to do this to Yu & Me honestly. Big companies like Co-op shouldn’t have [the] power to get rid of someone else’s business like this. If anything, they should at least build them their own space since… You know, it’s been there around 30/40 years. Pretty awful thing for them to do to Yu & Me, I hope they can find somewhere nearby to continue on honestly…”

One person even shared a somewhat tongue-in-cheek but still heartfelt tribute song, bidding farewell to the no-nonsense odds-and-ends institution.

Read more:

Although it is obviously sad news, the number of people sharing memories of going in with their parents, grandparents, or even taking their own children in there over the years is touching to read.

Warner’s father who ran the shop before him remains a popular figure even though he hasn’t been out on the shop floor these days; he famously raised thousands as part of the 2005 tsunami appeal.

Pulling funds from three different Yu & Me shops across Greater Manchester at the time, he said: “Money is no good to us when we die and we are lucky that we are not born in such places. Some customers may have only donated pennies but all together it’s raised a lot of money. One day these people may help us.”

As a Stopfordian born and bred myself, I can only thank the Yu family for their years of service and for being the only place nearby to find last-minute spray paint for my year 11 art project. Yu will be missed.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Google Maps/Warner Yu (via Facebook)/Peter Barr (via Geograph)

Shopping

‘You owe me an apology’ – shoppers share scenes of ‘chaos’ in the Trafford Centre on Boxing Day

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Scenes at the Trafford Centre on Boxing Day 2024. Credit: TikTok, @kimsilis

Another year, another chaotic Boxing Day in the Trafford Centre…

While many of us choose to spend our Boxing Days in our pyjamas eating cold turkey, or visiting the relatives we’ve not had chance to see yet this Christmas, for some it’s the chance to dive head-first into the shops.

Many big retailers slash their prices straight after Christmas, offering bargain-hunters a chance to scoop up clothes, electricals, beauty and more for less.

While Black Friday may have overtaken in terms of discounts and scale in recent years, there’s still something about the Boxing Day sales that lures people out of hibernation and into the shops

Yesterday, things looked like they were going to be off to a quiet start at Trafford Centre, with only a few hardy shoppers in the shopping centre before anything was even open.

People have shared a video of a long queue forming outside Lush from 7.30am, but otherwise it looked like things were going to be calm.

Silly thought.

By mid-afternoon, videos started to emerge that showed the Trafford Centre packed with Boxing Day shoppers.

Some people shared videos of products scattered along floors and displays, with large queues outside popular shops like Sephora and JD.

One person wrote: “My claustrophobia said no.”

Another said: “Whoever said go Trafford Centre on Boxing Day you owe me an apology. Actual chaos.”

Someone else said: “I work in jd there, bad day in the office.”

Inside the Trafford Centre on Boxing Day 2024

Other people reported having to park on the pavement because the Trafford Centre parking was so full (this is definitely an exaggeration and you should never ever park on the pavements), and someone even said they saw a fight break out.

One smart person said: “Went at 8am absolutely no one there in and out got exactly what I needed.”

It honestly all looks not too bonkers compared to some years, but we all love a moan, eh?

Would you ever brave the Trafford Centre on Boxing Day?

Read more

Featured image: TikTok, @kimsilis

More Shopping

Christmas

Trafford Centre Boxing Day and New Year opening hours

Shopping

Major retailer Monki to close store in Manchester Arndale

The best party food at M&S for Christmas 2024

Christmas

The best picky bits and Christmas party food in M&S this year

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches