Easter shoppers are facing a bitter combination of smaller chocolate eggs and higher prices this year, as the soaring cost of cocoa drives a new wave of shrinkflation. Products from Maltesers, Cadbury, and Lindt have all been affected, with reductions in size or weight often accompanied by price increases.
Maltesers' XL egg has shrunk from 231g to 194g in many shops, while the price at Tesco has risen by £1 to £7, pushing the cost per gram up by 39%. Similarly, Cadbury's Twirl eggs now contain two individually wrapped Twirl fingers instead of two full bars, reducing weight by 9.5% to 218g, with the price rising to £7 from £6 last year.
Cadbury's Mini Eggs family pack has lost four eggs, dropping from 270g to 256g, and the price at Tesco (without loyalty card) has increased by 35% to £6.20. Lindt gold bunnies have maintained their weight at 200g, but the price has jumped from £5.50 to £8.50 at most retailers.
The changes are driven by a sharp increase in cocoa prices following poor harvests in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, exacerbated by extreme temperatures and unusual rainfall linked to the climate crisis. Rising sugar, energy, and labour costs have also contributed, forcing manufacturers to reduce sizes or alter recipes to keep prices in check.
A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley, owner of Maltesers, said the company had to make 'carefully considered changes' due to rising cocoa costs, while emphasising that final pricing is at retailers' discretion. Mondelēz International, owner of Cadbury, described size reductions as a 'last resort', citing higher costs for cocoa, dairy, energy, and transport.
