The price of a Freddo bar has become a crucial measurement of economic stability in the UK over the last few decades.
Freddo is a chocolate bar brand shaped like an anthropomorphic (the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities) cartoon frog. The now-defunct Australian confectionary company MacRobertson's originally manufactured it, but Cadbury produces it now.
The original Freddo bar features milk chocolate, but other varieties such as caramel-filled or white chocolate Freddos are available.
Most supermarkets charge around 25p for a Freddo, while it costs 30p on Cadbury’s website. However, prices could reach new heights of around 36p this year for a standard 18g bar of chocolate.
There are many reasons why Freddo bars have risen in price so much, but the key cause is the cost of cocoa — the main ingredient in chocolate.
Rising cocoa prices have caused increased prices across the entire chocolate industry, meaning this year’s Easter treats are more expensive than ever.
Companies have increased prices or embraced shrinkflation to navigate a volatile market. Here’s what you need to know about record cocoa price increases.
How much have cocoa prices risen?
This week, cocoa beans were traded at over $10,000 (£7,941) per tonne in the world commodity markets.
The cost of cocoa has increased by 129 per cent in 2024 alone — and the market doesn’t look to be easing any time soon.
Cocoa cost $2,461 (£1,954) per tonne in March 2022. This shows a massive price increase in a short period.
According to CNBC, most chocolate producers have withstood recent price volatility but shoppers may notice price differences soon.
Most cocoa is grown in West Africa. However, challenges to harvests and supply have led to a deficit in cocoa products worldwide.
As a result, consumers may have to prepare to see the price of their favourite chocolate bars rise even further in the coming months.
Why are cocoa prices rising?
There are many reasons behind the price increase of cocoa, but they stem mainly from the agricultural part of the sector.
Climate change has led to bad harvests in West Africa, meaning many farmers have struggled to produce the amount of cocoa beans required.
Reports have revealed that heavy rainfall has impacted many crops with black pod disease and swollen shoot virus.
Many farmers are also stepping away from the cocoa trade and focusing on products that yield higher payouts, meaning demand simply isn’t aligning with supply.
Marco Forgione, director general at The Institute of Export and International Trade, told the Independent that the global economic situation added to the cost of chocolate.
“We’ve seen the weaponisation of fragile global supply chains which has caused significant disruption due to events such as the ongoing situation in the Red Sea, wider global geopolitical uncertainty and a variety of updates to border policies,” he said.
“Combined with the impact of climate change — which has significantly dampened this year’s cocoa harvest — the price of chocolate is soaring.
“These ripples across global supply chains are being felt by consumers with the price of one of the nation’s most popular chocolate bars, Freddo, reaching the height of 36p this year — up by 150 per cent.”
How much has the cost of a Freddo bar gone up?
The last time you could buy a Freddo for 10p was in 2006. That’s 26p less than the reported rise on the horizon.
In 2007, the price rose to 15p for the first time in a dire signal of what was to come.
Prices have fluctuated ever since. This website shows the history of Freddo prices since 2000.
