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Tag: easter

  • Ferrero Rocher’s Easter chocolate collection returns

    Ferrero Rocher’s Easter chocolate collection returns

    Ferrero Rocher’s limited-edition Easter collection is making a comeback and is now on sale through major retailers.

    The collection includes Ferrero Collection Boxed Egg, Ferrero Collection Easter Eggs, Ferrero Rocher Milk Chocolate and Hazelnut Easter Squirrel, Grand Ferrero Rocher, Ferrero Rocher Easter Egg Gift Box, and Ferrero Rocher Milk Chocolate and Hazelnut Easter Egg.

    The chocolate brand has partnered again with interior designer and tastemaker Steve Cordony for styling the collection.

    “This year, my Easter theme features greenery, natural napery, and touches of gold with Ferrero Rocher to elevate a tablescape,” said Cordony.

    “We also crafted the cutest napkin Easter bunnies using a classic Ferrero Rocher. Something so
    simple and effective way to adorn your Easter table this year.”

    Earlier this year, Ferrero debuted its frozen bakery range, the Nutella Croissant and Nutella Muffin, which are now available to food service partners across Australia.

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  • Siri’s Konami Code Easter Egg has three different responses to tell you

    Siri’s Konami Code Easter Egg has three different responses to tell you

    A new Easter Egg has been discovered for iOS and the iPhone that is based on the Konami Code. The latter is a sequence of controller button presses that was created as a cheat by games developer Kazuhisa Hashimoto, who used to work for Konami. Hashimoto died last year at the age of 79 and one of the games he worked on was Gradius.

    The sequence of the Konami Code, Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A, was used by video game players to power up their characters in Gradius and other games. Now, that sequence is an Easter Egg for iOS users. Simply activate Siri by saying, “Hey, Siri” and read the directions of the cheat to the Virtual Assistant.

    Siri will respond by calling you a “cheater,” or a “nerd. Or Siri might say, “I’m getting dizzy.” The Konami Code also works on other platforms. Try it with Alexa and Amazon’s voice assistant will say, “Super Alexa mode: Activated. Starting reactors: Online. Enabling advanced systems: Online. Raising dongers. Error: Dongers missing. Aborting…”

    Back in 2003, Hashimoto said that he created the code to make it easier for him to play-test the game. Another game called Contra gave 30 extra lives to those who used the Konami Code on their controller when the title screen appeared. Keep in mind that the code also worked with non-NES games. On the PlayStation, the code would be Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, O, X.

  • Easter spending up 4.6 per cent over Last Year

    Easter spending up 4.6 per cent over Last Year

    While nationwide spending was down year-on-year over the week to Easter Monday, the holiday period performed better compared to its 2018 counterpart, according to nationwide spending data from Paymark.

    The seven days to Monday, April 22, 2019, saw spending increase by 4.6 per cent compared to the Easter week in 2018, which ran to April 2. This is down slightly from the 4.9 per cent year-on-year spending increase in 2018.

    Gisborne saw the strongest growth at 14.6 per cent, followed by Marlborough at 13.3 per cent, when comparing Easter periods.

    Spending was also up across clothing and footwear stores (13.8 per cent), and liquor retailers (9.9 per cent).

    Compared to the exact same week in 2018, rather than last year’s East period, spending in the Canterbury region was down 7 per cent, with Kiwis spending a total of $125.1 million in the region over the week.

    Wellington brought in $106.2 million, a 5.9 per cent drop, while Auckland brought in $454.1 million – a 6 per cent drop compared to the same period in 2018.

    Auckland made up about a third of the spending in the country, with Paymark recording $1.19 billion spent over the week (0.8 per cent down on 2018), though the region was far outstripped in terms of overall growth.

    The Bay of Plenty saw spending grow to $92.9 million – a 14.5 per cent increase year over year. Gisborne enjoyed 19.6 per cent spending growth to $11.7 million, while Otago brought in $76.6 million, or an increase of 7.1 per cent.

    According to Paymark, grocery, fuel and hospitality providers, drove almost all of the spending increase.

    “This year these merchants recorded $43 million more spending (up 15.7 per cent) outside of the three largest Paymark regions,” Paymark said.

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  • Easter 2019 trading hours Unveiled

    Easter 2019 trading hours Unveiled

    The Australian Retailers Association expects shoppers to turn out in force to buy Easter-related food and gifts this week.

    According to the ARA, most Easter sales do not occur until the week before Good Friday, which this year falls on April 19.

    Although the Easter trading period is shorter than the Christmas period, it is still recognised as a busy event for retailers, ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said.

    “As Easter is celebrated widely, many Australians will be heading to retail outlets to buy fresh produce to cater for Easter lunches and feed their friends and families,” Zimmerman said.

    The ARA predicts that sales of traditional Easter items, including hot cross, buns, seafood, fresh produce, liquor and chocolate will increase during this time.

    Bryan Skepper, Sydney Fish Market general manager, said he expects 50,000 people to visit the iconic market on Good Friday and estimates over 650 tonnes of seafood will be sold during the day.

    Skepper said the fish market will open its doors for extended trading hours on Good Friday. It will open at 5am on April 19 and will close at 5pm.

    Steve Plarre, CEO of Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, said hot cross buns, unsurprisingly, are top-sellers during the Easter period.

    He said the last few years have seen a rise in the sale of their raspberry and white chocolate and apple and cinnamon varieties.

    Restrictions on trading during the Easter period, which begins on Good Friday and lasts until Easter Monday, vary by state. The National Retail Association has provided the following information on trading restrictions:

    ACT

    There are no trading restrictions any day from April 19-22.

    Northern Territory

    Trading hours are not regulated in the Northern Territory, however, individual restrictions may apply to certain shopping centres based on centre management.

    Trading hours for the sale of liquor products are regulated.

    NSW

    Shops are closed on Good Friday, April 19, and Easter Sunday, April 21, except for small shops and exempt shops, and shops in exempt areas.

    There are no trading restrictions on Saturday, April 20, or Monday, April 22.

    Queensland

    Independent retail shops are closed on Good Friday except if they are a predominantly food and/or grocery store, which can trade unrestricted. There are no restrictions from April 20-22.

    Non-exempt shops must not open on Good Friday. Trading may be permitted for non-exempt shops in certain areas of Queensland on the other public holidays during the Easter period.

    Tasmania

    Shops are closed on Good Friday, April 19, but are open from April 20-22.

    South Australia

    Shops in the CBD tourist precinct are closed on Good Friday, April 19. Trading is permitted on Saturday, April 20, until 5pm, and between 11am and 5pm on Sunday, April 21, and Monday, April 22.

    Shops in the Greater Adelaide Shopping District are closed on Good Friday, April 19, and Easter Sunday, April 21. Trading is permitted on Saturday, April 20, until 5pm, and between 11am and 5pm on Monday, April 22.

    Shops in Proclaimed Shopping Districts, excluding shops selling hardware, building materials, furniture floor coverings and motor vehicle parts and accessories, are closed from April 19-22.

    Trading is permitted for the exempted categories listed above on Saturday, April 20, until 5pm, and between 9am and 5pm on Sunday, April 21, and Monday, April 22. These shops are closed on Good Friday, April 19.

    Victoria

    Shops are closed on Good Friday, April 19, except for exempt shops. There are no restrictions on trading from April 20-22.

    WA

    Shops are closed in the Perth metro area on Good Friday, April 19, and trade is permitted on Saturday, April 20, between 8am to 5pm. On Sunday, April 21, trade is permitted between 11am to 5pm, and on Monday, April 22, trade is permitted between 8am to 6pm.

    Outside of the Perth metro area, shops are closed on April 19-22, except for Saturday, April 20, when trade is permitted between 8am and 5pm.