With Easter around the corner, we are all finding chocolate eggs popping up in our local supermarkets – some stocking the confectionary as early as December. But are we still a nation of chocolate lovers?
According to data, Brits will likely eat approximately 126 chocolate Easter eggs in their lifetime, with the average lifetime being 80 years (and removing the first two years of life that your baby shouldn’t be eating chocolate), you’ll eat roughly 1.6 Easter eggs a year. But with so many more options tailored to your tastes, is there something better you can have this year?
Katy Baxter, Corporate Affairs Director at Baxters of Scotland, food hamper business, says: “Traditionally, chocolate eggs symbolise Easter. However, more people are steering away from these sweet temptations for a bit more variety, adapting holidays like this to their own tastes. With everything from personalised goods to springtime decor, there are more unique gifts than ever.”
The decline of Easter chocolate
It isn’t simply Easter chocolate that could be threatened, but some Brits just aren’t eating as many confectionary and sweet treats as they used to. According to data, younger people are treating themselves less to sweet foods than before.
In July 2019, the majority of 18-24-year-olds (40%) would eat a sweet treat once a day, but in December 2023, the majority (32%) would only eat a sweet treat once or twice a week, compared to the now 30% who eat it once a day still. The number of 18–25-year-olds eating sweet treats once every two weeks has more than doubled, from 3% in 2019 to 7% in 2023.
This reduction in the amount of chocolate young people eat could mean we see less and less demand for Easter eggs this year. In fact, Google Trends is already showing a decline in interest for “easter chocolate”, with the search term peaking in March to April 2021 and slowly declining in 2022 and 2023.
Katy says: “Chocolate just isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It is tradition for most families to buy their loved ones some chocolate at Easter, but they might better enjoy something more tailored. There are plenty of ideas to choose from, including an Easter hamper, spring-fruit conserves for something sweet, or even a decorative egg.”
Non-chocolate alternatives
Hampers
Not sure what to get that special someone in your life who isn’t a chocoholic? Well, easter gifts are likely to see a revival this year. As interest starts to spark up, “easter gifts” is starting to trend faster this year than in previous years.
Katy says: “An Easter hamper can be a great way to spruce up your gift-giving this holiday without relying on the chocolate. This way, you can get them unique items and truly make them feel seen. From stocking their pantry to trying new and exciting flavours, choosing a hamper with conserves, soups, and wines can add an extra element of comfort and good food without getting them the same as everyone else.”
Home-baked goods
If you’re looking for a sweet treat but wanting to move away from buying chocolate eggs, you could do some home baking. Nothing says comfort like something made by hand, and since cooking and baking is the second most common hobby (with 39% of people doing it regularly), there’s no better time to share your love for food than with an Easter-themed gift.
Katy says: “If you’ve been trying your hand at baking for the past few months, there’s no better time than spring to gift some of your creations to your loved one. From jam tarts to shortbread, there are plenty of sweet treats and snacks that you can make from the comfort of your home.”
Easter day celebrations
Spending time with your loved ones is a must for these holidays. In fact, quality time is the nation’s favourite love language, with 30% of people saying it is their most preferred method of receiving love, beating gift-giving.
So, making sure you’re attending family and friend events this Easter is more important than what you bring. Planning a picnic with your loved ones or a family meal could be the best thing you can do to treat those around you.
Your celebrations don’t have to involve simply meeting up. In fact, you can bring your hobbies to the table and enjoy some creative fun with your loved ones. You can bake together, or if you’re more of a DIY-er, then you can try your hands at making homemade wreaths or even create your own bouquet of seasonal flowers for the kitchen table.
Easter decor
If you’re planning to be good this year or simply aren’t a fan of chocolate, you don’t have to worry. Easter is now becoming a much more of an aesthetic holiday, with more people using it as a time to celebrate the spring with their loved ones.
And decorative eggs might be all the rage. In fact, #easterdecor has 1.8 million posts on Instagram, with people sharing their unique hacks and cute curated eggs for the occasion. So, instead of spending your money on chocolate this year, you might spend time upgrading your home for a spring refresh.
Spring is all about nature and birth, with flowers blooming everywhere. So, why not bring this into your home for the Easter season? Try adding nature into your loved one’s homes by gifting them a fresh bouquet with seasonal flowers – it is sure to brighten up their day.
Got a special someone in your life who doesn’t like chocolate? Easter can be a tricky time to know how to treat them without them feeling left out, but it seems that as a nation, we are moving away from the strict traditions and embracing a bit more uniqueness, even around this holiday. So, spend some time with your family or even treat them to a selection of exciting flavours to stand out this year.
