Eggspensive: Whittakers, Pascall's and Cadbury 'mark up' choc prices for Easter
Friday, 2 April 2021
Chocolate is much more expensive when it’s delivered in Easter egg form, a price comparison survey by Finder shows.
The country’s most trusted brand Whittaker’s had the biggest Easter price 'mark up” of the brands analysed, with a cost difference of 289 per cent per 100 grams between their Easter chocolate kiwi and regular chocolate in a block.
The 75g chocolate kiwi was $4.90 or $6.53 per 100g, but a creamy milk 250g chocolate block was $4.20 or $1.68 per 100g.
Pascall’s pineapple lumps followed with the next biggest price hike, with consumers paying 164 per cent more per 100g for pineapple lumps Easter eggs versus a bag of regular pineapple lumps.
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A 130g bag of pineapple lump Easter eggs cost $4.90, more than double that of a $2 bag of regular 140g pineapple lumps.
Nestle (155 per cent) and Cadbury (72 per cent) also had big markups when comparing their themed versus non themed chocolate products per 100g.
Swiss chocolatier Lindt was found to have the smallest Easter markup, with a price difference of just 18 per cent for a milk chocolate bunny versus a regular block of chocolate.
Finder publisher Kevin McHugh said brands typically hiked up prices for similar products packaged differently around festivities.
“Chocolate is an Easter staple so there's no surprise that there are markups at this time of year. If you haven't already bought your Easter chocolate, consider ditching the novelty bunny and go for your stock standard block of chocolate instead,” McHugh said.
“You can save as much as $4.85 per 100g by switching from bunny to bar think of all that extra chocolate,” he said.
McHugh said stockists often discounted their Easter chocolate after the long weekend to move it off the shelves more quickly.
“Rather than fork out on chocolate you can make your friends and family Easter treats instead. A homemade cake or cookie adds a personal touch, and can be a great school holiday activity for the kids.”
Easter egg prices have changed significantly over time – but so has what you get for your money.