March 2008

As the most important day in the Christian calendar fast approaches, it may come as a surprise to many that the majority of the nation do not see Easter first and foremost as a religious festival.

New research out today reveals that over two thirds of people in the UK associate Easter with chocolate, while nearly one in ten think of Easter as just an extended bank holiday. And over ten percent of Brits see Easter as having no religious connotations at all!

In fact, according to the survey by British luxury chocolate retailer, Hotel Chocolat (www.hotelchocolat.co,uk), the UK sees the chocolate Easter eggs as nearly ten times more important than spending time with family over the Easter period.

The research also shows that it’s not age or gender that determines the nation’s attitudes towards Easter – instead it’s all about your profession. Those working in the legal and education sectors are most likely to think of Easter as a religious festival while those in the Human Resources department have a slightly different view - with over 80% citing chocolate Easter eggs as the only thing that matters during Easter! And if you work in the health care industry you’re most likely to be looking forward to the extra time off.

From the study, it would seem that getting the right Easter Chocolate egg is crucial to a happy fun filled four days. But what qualities should you look for? Well, more than half of the UK considers cheap chocolate and thin shells the worst thing about Easter eggs, and would rather pay extra for the chocolate quality, ahead of the sheer size of the egg. As a result, Hotel Chocolat, recognizing the nation’s needs, has created chocolate eggs three times thicker than the average Easter treat available elsewhere on Britain’s supermarket shelves. So no matter what your attitude to Easter may be, you’ll be able to enjoy it with a quality Easter egg, courtesy of one of Britain’s most luxurious chocolate retailers...