Easter egg hunters greeted with empty shelves as stores sell out of popular brands

It’s only Good Friday and already the vast majority of stores around Ireland are sold out of cheap and medium-priced Easter Eggs.

If you fancy buying kids or loved ones a precious Easter Egg it’s likely you’ll have to fork out at least €10 for a premium brand chocolate product.

Worried customers flocked to shops in a bid to snap up last minute eggs, only to find shelves empty.

Tesco, for instance, had been selling small Cadbury eggs at a bargain rate of €3 for three, when their normal price was €2.20 each and with customers allowed only three each. But anyone hoping for that bargain will be sorely disappointed as they’ve all evaporated.

Dunnes Stores on Dublin’s Mary Street and North Kind Street was also cleaned out by early Friday, with just the likes of chocolate bunnies and truffles left.

It is a similar story in discount stores such as Lidl and Aldi, which had been selling eggs medium priced eggs of two for €6. Now all that’s left in many of them are less in demand dark chocolate eggs at more expensive prices.

Iceland sold out their two for €8 medium sized eggs also by Friday lunchtime – their regular price had been €7 each.

Supervalu have a range of eggs left from €10 each.

Marks and Spencer still have premium priced eggs for €12, as do the likes of Butlers shops.

Many people might have laughed at supermarket shelves being stocked with eggs from late January, but many people took advantage of early deals and those wishing to get an Easter Egg for a loved one this weekend will have to pay over the odds if they’re lucky enough to find one.