CADBURY fans have blasted a shop for advertising chocolate Easter eggs as "gesture eggs".

       The chocolate giant's discount store in the Springfields Outlet in Spalding, Lincolnshire, offered customers a two-for-￡10 deal on "gesture eggs".

       3

       Cadbury fans have blasted a discount store for advertising chocolate Easter eggs as 'gesture eggs' Credit: Facebook 3

       The shop in the Springfields Outlet in Spalding, Lincolnshire, offered customers a two-for-￡10 deal Credit: Facebook

       Outraged shoppers took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their anger with one declaring: "The world's gone".

       Another said: "I love Cadbury's chocolate but won't be buying any Easter eggs called gesture eggs."

       A third tweeted: "I'm not even religious and this gets my back right up. Why are all things Christian being attacked right now?"

       The removal of the word "Easter" also provoked backlash from the Christian community.

       Read more News CHOC LOT Discount supermarket slashes price of Cadbury Creme Eggs to rival Tesco

       CHOC JOY Cadbury giving away FREE Dairy Milk bars to thousands of choc fans - how to get it

       "Easter eggs symbolise the resurrection – just as Jesus rose again from the tomb, new life emerges from eggshells," Tim Dieppe, the head of public policy at Christian Concern, told The Sun.

       "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'."

       He added: "Without the message of Easter there would be no reason for Easter eggs.

       "One wonders why a store would want to erase the connection between Easter and eggs?

       Most read in The Sun

       DEATH ARREST George Gilbey's colleague arrested after star fell '80ft through a skylight'

       SAY WATT Major energy brand closes for good as 1.3million forced to change supplier

       GET WELL SOON CBB star in horror injury as she breaks her back and is left bedridden

       DEATH PROBE Man arrested over death of George Gilbey after Gogglebox star fell at warehouse

       "If people stop celebrating Easter, they might well stop buying Easter eggs."

       Cadbury said the discount store was run "completely independently" by Freshstore and denied having any involvement in the promotion.

       I tried Lindt bunny dupes from major retailers - I could eat a whole bargain version in one go and it's half the price

       The chocolate firm also insisted "Easter" is still used in other areas of Cadbury's advertising.

       It's understood the independent retailer named the display "Special Gesture" eggs.

       Other Cadbury outlet stores in Cheshire Oaks, Wirral, and Alfreton, Derbyshire, are also said to have promoted "gesture eggs".

       A spokesperson for Mondelez International, which owns Cadbury, told The Sun: "This promotion is not Cadbury led and we had no involvement in any way.

       "All Cadbury Easter shell eggs sold in the UK reference Easter very clearly on the packaging – sometimes multiple times.

       "Cadbury has used the word Easter in our marketing and communications for over 100 years and continue to do so with our new Easter product range.

       "To claim anything otherwise is factually incorrect.

       "We are proud of the role we play within families' Easter celebrations and have a wide range of products that can be enjoyed throughout the Easter season."

       The Springfields Outlet has been approached for comment.

       It's not the first time the chocolate giant has come under fire for omitting the word "Easter".

       In 2017, former Prime Minister Theresa May slammed the re-branding of a National Trust event as "absolutely ridiculous".

       Senior clerics accused the chocolate giant of trying to “drop Easter” and "airbrush faith" after changing the name of the event to the "Great British Egg Hunt".

       READ MORE SUN STORIES OFF AIR Tearful Roman Kemp thanks fans for 'saving his life' in emotional last Capital show

       HOL-D OFF Another airline cancels 400 flights ahead of Easter affecting 50,000 passengers

       The company was also slammed for missing the word "Easter" off their chocolate eggs in the same year.

       Cadbury said the "Easter" was embossed on the actual egg.

       3

       Cadbury said the discount store was run 'completely independently' by Freshstore Credit: Facebook

       Iconic chocolates that have left shop shelves

       Cadbury's Dream Chocolate bar: The popular bar was discontinued in 2002, but was relaunched in 2019 under the new name 'Cadbury White'.

       Mars Delight Bar: Although it proved to be a firm favourite by sweet-toothed fans during its four-year stint in shops starting in 2004, by 2008 it was removed from shelves. Fans still long to see the treat make a return.

       Nestlé's Caramac chocolate bar: The one-of-a-kind bar had been in shops for over six decades, but was discontinued last year due to continual slumps in sales.

       Milky Way Crispy Rolls: They were pulled from shelves in 2022, and fans were so distraught by the news that a petition was started to bring them back, which currently has more than 8,500 signatures.

       White Maltesers: The white chocolate version of the popular snack had a strong run lasting 11 years, but falling sales saw them discontinued in 2014.