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UK chocolate prices surge as brands shrink sizes and hike costs

Your favorite Easter eggs now cost far more per gram—while weighing less. Discover how shrinkflation and cocoa shortages are reshaping UK chocolate shopping.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
The image shows a grocery store with a refrigerator filled with lots of different types of eggs....
The image shows a grocery store with a refrigerator filled with lots of different types of eggs. The eggs are arranged neatly in the racks, with price tags attached to each one. The background is slightly blurred, giving the image a sense of depth.

UK chocolate prices surge as brands shrink sizes and hike costs

The price of chocolate has climbed sharply across UK supermarkets, with major brands raising costs far above inflation. Products like Galaxy, M&Ms, and Toblerone now cost 10-25% more than in 2022, while own-brand alternatives have risen by 5-15%. The increases come as manufacturers adjust packaging, recipes, and promotions to offset rising production expenses.

A mix of global cocoa shortages, high demand, and soaring energy and transport costs has pushed chocolate prices up. Data shows the average cost of chocolate rose by 9.7% in a year—more than double the 3.9% inflation rate for food and drink overall.

Easter eggs have seen some of the steepest hikes. At Morrisons, a Cadbury Mini Eggs Milk Chocolate Easter Egg jumped from £4 for 193.5g to £5 for 181g, a 34% increase per gram. The Toblerone The Edgy Egg Milk Chocolate Easter Egg With Truffles rose from £14 for 298g to £15 for 256g, up 25% per gram. An M&Ms Crispy Easter Egg went from £3.48 for 192g to £3.97 for 156g, marking a 40% per-gram rise.

Other brands followed similar patterns. A Galaxy Milk Chocolate Extra Large Easter Egg at Asda increased from £4.98 for 252g to £5.97 for 210g, a 44% per-gram hike. At Tesco, a Maltesers Milk Chocolate Easter Egg shrank in size while its price rose from £6 to £7, resulting in a 40% per-gram increase.

Manufacturers have also turned to cost-cutting measures. These include smaller package sizes (shrinkflation), cheaper ingredients in recipes, and repositioning some products as premium to justify higher prices. Supermarket own-label premium chocolates saw the highest inflation at 6.7%, compared to 4% for budget own-brand items and 2.8% for branded products.

The surge in chocolate prices reflects broader economic pressures, from ingredient shortages to rising operational costs. Consumers now face higher per-gram costs, particularly for seasonal items like Easter eggs. With branded products outpacing inflation, shoppers may increasingly turn to cheaper alternatives or smaller quantities.

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