A Christmas advert for an Irish supermarket chain has taken social media by storm thanks to an emotive 2020-themed twist.
Within four hours of posting, the food retailer’s advert had been viewed over 50,000 times on Twitter and shared thousands of times on Facebook.
SuperValu released the commercial, which stars a young boy called Conor who is preparing for Christmas amid Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
“Is he still coming this year?” Conor asks his mother, to which she replies: “Of course he is”.
The boy then appears to write a letter to Father Christmas, placing a sign which reads “please stop here” outside his home and laying out a plate of mince pies with a glass of milk.
However, hearing movement downstairs one night, Conor hurries down the stairs to be greeted by his grandfather.
“Grandad! I knew you’d come,” says Conor, followed by the tagline “SuperValu: We Believe”.
People said the advert captured the “perfect sentiment” as it reflects the nation’s desire for families to be together at Christmas in a year of uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic.
This is so lovely. So bloody lovely. The sentiment is perfect, especially for the year we’re in. Really well done. ❤️❤️❤️
— Carol Smurf (@CarolSmurf) November 12, 2020
Many said they had been brought to tears by the moving advert.
Me watching the #SuperValu Christmas AD 🥺🥺🥺🥺 pic.twitter.com/jUUFuv4isE
— Erin(Chasing Rubies) (@ChasingRubies2) November 12, 2020
Oh sweet lord. How can you not cry at that!? 😢 #SuperValu https://t.co/uTaKKpodmK
— Muireann Kyeyune (@MaccoolKyeyune) November 12, 2020
“Don’t think even John Lewis will top this,” tweeted @dok88.
“@SuperValuIRL have won Christmas with this!”
November 12th, 2020
— ✨ k a t h e r i n e ✨ (@kat__scott) November 12, 2020
Turned on my phone only to see the SuperValu Christmas ad on my feed. Currently crying at 10:05am. Great start to the day.
“Oh dear, the kicker at the end makes you realise how much Covid has actually affected you, even if you thought it hadn’t,” responded Twitter user @_CiaraKeegan.
Supervalu shared the advert on Twitter along with the caption: “Christmas may be a little different this year but we all know who makes it extra special. Whether you’re keeping old traditions or making new ones we all love a magical Christmas. You just have to Believe.”
The UK Government has yet to confirm how Brits will be able to enjoy this year’s Christmas holidays.
Environment Secretary George Eustice has said it is “too early to say” how coronavirus restrictions could affect celebrations.
