Cadbury shop faces a backlash from Christians who accused it of 'erasing' ... trends now
A Cadbury shop has sparked a backlash from Christians who have accused it of 'erasing' Easter by selling 'gesture eggs'.
The chocolate giant - which insists it has used 'Easter' in its marketing for more than 100 years - had a two-for-£10 promotion on 'gesture eggs' at an independently run discount store in Springfields Outlet in Spalding, Lincolnshire.
The decision to remove the word 'Easter' has sparked anger among Christians who argue that 'without the message of Easter there would be no reason for Easter eggs'.
Andrea Williams, the CEO of Christian Concern, told MailOnline: 'The original Cadbury family who founded the business were deeply motivated by their Christian faith and used profits from their business to serve charitable causes across the world.
'It's a shame for them to have forgotten those deep Christian roots.'
Cadbury said the 'gesture eggs' promotion was independently run by Freshstore which operates the discount store and denied having any involvement in it.
A Cadbury shop has sparked a backlash from Christians who have accused it of 'erasing' Easter by selling 'gesture eggs'. Pictured: The Springfields Outlet in Spalding, Lincolnshire, selling 'gesture eggs'
This picture shows the promotional poster for 'gesture eggs' at the Springfields Outlet Cadbury shop
This East Midlands Designer Outlet was also advertising 'gesture eggs' at two for £10
Other Cadbury outlet stores in Cheshire Oaks, Wirral, and Alfreton, Derbyshire, have also promoted 'gesture eggs'.
Tim Dieppe, the head of public policy at Christian Concern, told MailOnline: 'Easter eggs symbolise the resurrection – just as Jesus rose again from the tomb, new life emerges from eggshells.
'They also symbolise the new life that we can have through the forgiveness that Jesus obtained for us on the cross, enabling us to be 'born again'. Without the message of Easter there would be no reason for Easter eggs.
'One wonders why Cadburys would want to erase the connection between Easter and eggs? If people stop celebrating Easter, they might well stop buying Easter eggs.'
It's understood the eggs pictured were named as 'Special Gesture' eggs by the independent retailer and that 'Easter' is routinely used in other areas of Cadbury's advertising.
Outraged shoppers also criticised the promotion, with one simply writing: 'The world's gone.'
Another tweeted: 'I'm not even religious and this gets my back right up, why are all things Christian being attacked right now.'
A third said: 'They can keep their eggs.'
A fourth posted: 'What an utter disgrace, i am so so sick of this woke pandering society we live in.'
And a fifth wrote: 'I love Cadbury's chocolate but won't be buying any Easter eggs called gesture eggs.'
This is not the first time Cabdury has come under fire for the omission of the word 'Easter'. The National Trust
