A festive shopping trip to Aldi left one customer utterly astounded after he discovered the price of a popular Christmas chocolate tin, igniting a fierce online debate about the cost of seasonal sweets.
The Moment of Shock in the Aisle
The shopper, posting on social media as @maneatsthingz, filmed his reaction inside the store, questioning the price tag on a 700g tin of Cadbury Heroes. He captioned the video: "Am I tripping or does that say £11.99 for 700g of Heroes?"
Expressing his disbelief, he added, "This can't be right, I thought these were like £5 a tin or something. Someone tell me this is nuts, please." To emphasise his point, he set the footage to the song 'Bonkers' by Dizzee Rascal, perfectly capturing his gobsmacked reaction to the cost.
Shoppers React with Fury and Frustration
The video quickly resonated with other consumers, who flooded the comments with their own frustrations over chocolate prices. One person declared they had stopped buying the products altogether, stating, "I'm not buying them. I never do since they made the tubes smaller and more expensive."
Another comment took direct aim at the manufacturer: "Cadbury's are taking the peach out of us! Their version of inflation has been a disgrace over the last few years." A third simply branded it "Cheap chocolate at silly prices."
The Supermarket Price Comparison
An examination of prices across major UK retailers reveals that Aldi's £11.99 price point is actually among the most competitive for the 700g tin. The situation elsewhere is more severe:
- Tesco: £15, or £10 with a Clubcard
- Sainsbury's: £16.50, or £14.50 with a Nectar card
- Morrisons: £16.50
- Cadbury's website: A hefty £17
Aldi also offers a 550g tub for £4.89, which undercuts rivals. For comparison, a 550g tub of Heroes from Cadbury's typically costs £8.99, though Tesco sells them for £7, or £5.25 with a Clubcard.
The Rise of Own-Brand Alternatives
Faced with these prices, many shoppers are now actively switching to supermarket own-brand chocolates. One social media user revealed their savvy purchase: "£12 for a 1.2kg tin at M&S. That's what I got this year. Looking forward to trying them. And it has coffee creams!"
Another commenter encouraged this shift, pointing out a Tesco own-brand option: "£3.95 in Tesco for a 550g tub. Great value." This highlights a growing consumer trend towards value without sacrificing the festive experience.
Some customers defended the pricier tins over the plastic tubs, suggesting the metal containers are "easier to store" and can be reused, unlike their circular plastic counterparts. The decision for shoppers ultimately comes down to whether the extra 150g of chocolate and the more presentable tin justify the higher cost of the 700g option.
Cadbury's has been approached for comment regarding its pricing strategy.
