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Staff given store Easter eggs as The Warehouse closes for lockdown

Friday, 27 March 2020

Easter egg sales at The Warehouse will have to wait until the retail stores reopen - after Easter.
Easter egg sales at The Warehouse will have to wait until the retail stores reopen - after Easter.

People who celebrate Easter with chocolate needn't worry about the thousands of eggs locked away in Warehouse stores across the country.

The retail giant has assured chocolate-lovers they will all be available to purchase when the country comes out of lockdown - minus the eggs offered to staff as they left work on Wednesday.

This year Easter falls smack bang in the middle of the four-week lockdown period and will be celebrated from April 10 to 13.

And while the red shed's robust supply sits tight, chocolate eggs, bunnies and hot cross buns can still be picked up during your essentials run to the supermarket.

The stores were not considered an essential service and were forced to close for the four-week lockdown period.
The stores were not considered an essential service and were forced to close for the four-week lockdown period.

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On Thursday, Ian Carter EGM of operations at The Warehouse said as the stores closed on Wednesday the teams on duty at the time were encouraged to take home an Easter egg. 

They were also told to take perishable goods such as milk and bread.

The remainder of the Easter eggs would be available when The Warehouse reopened, Carter confirmed.

And there should be plenty of stock ready to go. When visited on Tuesday in the lead up to lockdown, New Plymouth's store was flush with chocolate eggs and no-one was rushing to buy them.

At that stage, it was unclear whether The Warehouse was considered an essential service and it was largely understood the stores would remain open during the lockdown.

But on Tuesday night the Government gave further advice on what could stay open - and The Warehouse got a resounding no. 

So, chocolate-lovers, just wait and have a second Easter.