Easter Eggs Shrink, Prices Soar: Shoppers Feel Cheated

This Easter, consumers are paying more for less as popular branded chocolate eggs experience significant price hikes and size reductions. Research indicates that some eggs have seen price increases exceeding 40% per 100g, with notable examples including Galaxy, M&M's Crispy, Maltesers, Cadbury Mini Eggs, and Toblerone The Edgy Egg. These increases are attributed to persistent global supply issues affecting cocoa bean harvests in West Africa, such as Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Although cocoa prices have recently fallen from their peak in late 2024, they remained significantly higher than current levels for much of the past two years.

Confectionery manufacturers acknowledge these rising costs, with Mars Wrigley stating that ongoing pressures, including the documented rise in cocoa expenses, have necessitated carefully considered changes. They emphasize that final pricing is at the discretion of individual retailers. Consumer watchdogs highlight that while overall food and drink inflation stood at 3.9% in February, chocolate-specific inflation reached 9.7%. Experts advise shoppers to check the 'price per 100g' on shelf labels to accurately compare value and avoid feeling misled by headline prices.