'The Real Easter Egg': The chocolate treat with a religious message

'Religious' Easter eggs are to go on sale in the UK's biggest supermarkets for the first time after church leaders pleaded with stores to stock them.

Out of 80 million eggs on sale in the UK, 'The Real Easter Egg' claims to be the only one to explain the religious significance of Easter on the box.

It has won the support of high-profile Christians including Archbishop of York, Rev John Sentamu, and will hit the shelves at stores like Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Waitrose from today.

Backers of the eggs, manufactured by The Meaningful Chocolate Company, have petitioned superstores and bishops have written letters of endorsement to senior management since the egg was launched in 2010.

The Bishop of Hereford, the Revd Anthony Priddis, said there was a "real demand" for packaging that explains the religious understanding of Easter.

He said: "I wrote to the supermarkets last year encouraging them to stock The Real Easter Egg.

"I am delighted they have taken the challenge seriously."

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David Marshall from the Meaningful Chocolate Company said: "Our aim is to change the Easter egg market forever by making it more spiritual, more generous and more faithful."

'The Real Easter Egg' is fairtrade and  £60,000-worth of proceeds will have been donated to Traidcraft Exchange from sales by Easter 2013.