As the UK’s big supermarkets brace themselves for a fresh spike in demand during the Easter weekend and beyond, it is a question that has once again reared its head.

Executives from some supermarket chains are pushing for current laws – which only allow stores larger than 3,000 sq ft to open for six hours between 10am and 6pm on Sundays – to be relaxed during the coronavirus pandemic, as Retail Week has reported.

They fear they simply cannot achieve their mission of feeding the nation without a temporary easing of those regulations.

Convenience groups and independent c-store operators, however, are concerned that such a move would unfairly impinge on their sales.