Move over Rudolph, the Easter Bunny is hopping to town! Asda has announced it will give away free carrots to customers across 581 stores on Good Friday, stepping in to support a rapidly growing UK tradition of leaving a carrot out for the Easter Bunny on ‘Easter Eve’, as almost half of Brits (44.9%) say they’ve previously left out a carrot for the Easter bunny in the past, with a 10.1% growth in the tradition in the last two years alone.
As families look for new ways to extend the magic of the Easter holidays beyond the Sunday morning chocolate rush, this playful custom is becoming a staple of the spring calendar. Inspired by the long-standing Christmas Eve ritual of leaving mince pies out for Santa and carrots for his reindeer, ‘Easter Eve’ is swiftly becoming a key seasonal moment itself, with families leaving a treat out for the bunny.
New research suggests the tradition is already taking root in homes across the UK, with 58% of those who leave a carrot out for the Easter Bunny, having done so for at least five years. The findings also highlight a noticeable rise in enthusiasm among 18–29-year-olds, 22% of whom took part last year, suggesting that younger adults are not only embracing the custom, but actively reviving and reinventing childhood Easter rituals more than any other age group surveyed.
And leaning fully into the ‘Santa style magic’ of the Easter Bunny, many families admitted to staging evidence to prove the Bunny had made a stop. One in eight (12%) confessed to biting or nibbling the carrot themselves to mimic bunny teeth marks, while 10% scattered a few crunchy crumbs on the plate, all in the name of crafting a believable Easter morning moment.
To help further fuel the excitement, Asda is temporarily rebranding its fresh produce as ‘Easter Bunny Carrots’ alongside other ‘Easter’ vegetables including parsnips, broccoli and potatoes, with selected produce on rollback to 30p, or 5 items for £1 linksave instore from 31st March to 6th April. The retailer will be handing out loose carrots in stores, encouraging children to prepare a special snack for their long-eared visitor after an evening spent prepping for egg hunts.
An Asda Spokesperson said: “The new-age tradition of leaving a carrot out for the Easter Bunny offers a simple, accessible way for families to build anticipation for a special Easter Sunday, and we are delighted to be helping families create magical moments together this year. And, unlike reindeer, rabbits genuinely love carrots, making the tradition surprisingly logical!”
And for parents looking for an easy, budget-friendly way to keep kids entertained during the holidays, Asda is offering a free in-store Easter Bunny hunt, where kids can search for the letters that spell ‘BUNNY’ to keep boredom at bay during the weekly shop*.
Shoppers can pick up their free ‘Easter Bunny Carrot’* in participating stores on Friday 3rd April, while stocks last.
Asda’s Easter range can be purchased both in-store and online at Asda.com.
