Shoppers may face a choccy horror show this Halloween after the price of chocolate shot up 11% in the past year – far outstripping increases for other foods across UK supermarkets.
Britons opening their doors to trick-or-treaters could decide to cut back on spending for 31 October, as the cost of chocolate rose sharply in the year to the end of August, way above wider grocery inflation of 2.7% over the same period, according to research by the consumer group Which?
The price has risen after cocoa prices more than doubled on world markets in the face of tree disease and adverse weather in growing countries aggravated by the climate crisis.
Weather issues, including a wetter-than-usual rainy season, led to a cocoa shortage in west Africa, in particular Ghana and Ivory Coast, where more than half of the world’s cocoa beans are harvested.
Increased global demand for cocoa is also contributing to scarcity and subsequent price rises, alongside the increasing cost of fertilisers, deforestation and illegal mining practices that degrade land. The price of sugar has also increased amid dry weather in Brazil and a delayed monsoon season in India.
In some of the worst examples of “chocflation” identified by Which?, the cost of Sainsbury’s milk chocolate (100g) almost doubled – from an average of 95p in the three months to the end of August 2023 to £1.84 in the same period in 2024.
A 210g assortment of Prestat chocolates and truffles on Ocado increased by 88%, from £17 in the three months to the end of August 2023 to a whopping £32 a year later. An 80g dairy-free chocolate bar sold by Asda rose from £1.50 to £2.40 – an increase of 60%.
At Sainsbury’s, a Cadbury multipack of treat-sized chocolate bars increased from £2.50 to £3.72; at Morrisons, a 360g Cadbury Milk Tray chocolate box rose from £4.01 to £5.74 and at Asda, a multipack of caramel and white Twix fingers increased from £1.65 to £2.35 – all price rises of more than 40% in just a year.
Ele Clark, Which? retail editor, said: “Our research shows that despite overall food and drink inflation continuing to fall, chocolate prices have risen dramatically in the last year.
“To ensure you get the best value for money on your Halloween chocolate, shop around and compare the price per gram across different pack sizes, retailers and brands.”
An Asda spokesperson said: “Asda is consistently recognised as the best-value traditional supermarket in independent price comparison surveys, including the Grocer 33 basket comparison and the Which? monthly big shop trolley comparison. This is despite these surveys now including loyalty pricing.”
Aldi, Morrisons, Ocado and Sainsbury’s declined to comment to Which?.
