SHELL SHOCK
Shoppers furious over ‘disgraceful’ change to Cadbury Mini Eggs
The price of cocoa has seen a four-fold increase in the last 12 months
CADBURY Mini Eggs fans are shocked after the cost of a small bag rose by over a third - with packs now costing almost £2 in many shops.
The tasty treat has reappeared in stores in the build-up to Easter in April, but shoppers can’t believe the £1.85 price tag.
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In March last year, the 80g bags were £1.20 in Tesco, if you had a Clubcard, but now the same weight costs £1.65 on a Clubcard deal - a whopping 37.5 per cent hike.
Its regular Tesco price is £1.85, the same as in Poundland and Morrisons, and in Waitrose, it’s £2.20.
The 270g family-size Mini Eggs bags are now £4.85 in Tesco, whereas last year they were £3.75, an increase of 29 per cent.
Shoppers have blasted the price hikes, with some refusing to buy them.
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On X, one said: “Mini Eggs are the best but these days £1.85 is expensive for a little bag of Chocolate. With me, I inhale them!”
Another added: “Why are Mini eggs now priced at £1.85 for 80g? This can’t be linked to inflation.”
A third said: “Are you having an absolute laugh!!!! £1.85 for a bag of Mini Eggs. £1.25 up from £1 was bad enough but at almost double the price I refuse to buy these which is unfortunate as they’re my absolute favourite. Sad times ”
A fourth moaned the cost was a disgrace, and a fifth fumed: “As if life in the UK wasn’t bad enough, this year its £1.85 for a small 80g bag of Mini Eggs.”
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For those looking for a cheaper fix, there are alternative options like Aldi’s Dairyfine Mini Chocolate Eggs 80g, or Smarties Mini Eggs, also 80g, which are £1 in Poundland.
Cadbury has been approached for a comment.
'Finally' cry choc fans as Cadbury brings back iconic sweets for Christmas – and they taste just like Mini Eggs
The price hikes come amid soaring cocoa prices caused by poor climate and bean disease in West Africa - which is home to 70 per cent of global cocoa production.
The wholesale price of cocoa has seen a four-fold increase in the last 12 months.
A Mondelez spokesperson said: “We understand the economic pressures that consumers continue to face and raising prices is a last resort for our business.
“However, as a food producer, we are continuing to experience significantly higher input costs across our supply chain, with ingredients such as cocoa and sugar, which are widely used in our products, costing far more than they have done previously.
“Meanwhile, other costs like energy, packaging, and transport also remain high.
"This means that our products continue to be much more expensive to make and while we have absorbed these costs where possible, we still face considerable challenges.
“As a result, we have had to make the decision to increase the price of our 80g and 270g Cadbury Mini Eggs bags so that we can continue to provide consumers with the brands they love, without compromising on the great taste and quality they expect.”
What is shrinkflation?
Shrinkflation is causing massive problems for shoppers across the world.
It is when manufacturers shrink the size or quantity of a product while keeping the price the same.
This means that consumers will be paying more per given amount.
Rising the price per gram is a well-oiled strategy used by companies to boost profit margins stealthily or to cement them in times of rising input costs.
Companies will often engage in shrinkflation when their production costs begin to rise.
A heavy hit to profit margins may force the company to shrink its products rather than increase the sticker price simply.
One of the best ways to notice shrinkflation is by spotting a redesign on the packaging or a new slogan.
This may mean the company has made a change and that change may just be the size of the product.
It is mainly seen in the food and beverage industries but can also happen in almost all markets.
It is a form of hidden inflation as shrinkflation often goes unnoticed by customers.
Companies run the risk of turning customers away from a product or brand if they notice they are getting less for the same price.
The increasing prices aren't the only issue Cadbury has landed itself in.
Recently, Cadbury was forced to pull its hot chocolate from the shelves.
Shoppers were hit with shortages of the drinking chocolate at the end of last year after it was withdrawn from sale over quality concerns.
The concerning reason was revealed earlier this week.
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How to save money on chocolate
We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs...
Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars.
Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere.
Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal.
Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced.
They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.
Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.
So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.
Meanwhile, the Cadbury price hike controversy comes as the chocolate company revealed its 2025 Easter chocolate range.
The confectionery giant has rolled out a new selection box packed with classic goodies and the return of the iconic egg.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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