Chocolate Orange Price Doubles and Size Shrinks Amid Rising Costs and Supply Challenges
The popular Chocolate Orange has shrunk by 12 grams, an 8% size reduction compared to last Christmas, while its full price has surged from £1.24 in December 2022 to about £2.25 today, an increase of 81%. When factoring in the size decrease, the price per gram has effectively risen by about 96%.
Other Christmas chocolates, including Toblerone and Quality Street, are also becoming smaller. Some snacks are now marketed as 'chocolate flavour' due to higher proportions of palm oil and shea oil replacing cocoa.
Rabobank reports that western European chocolate bar prices have risen by more than 50% since 2021 and about 18% compared to last year.
These price increases stem from higher input costs across the supply chain, including cocoa, sugar, milk, packaging, transport, and wages. Mondelez points to persistently high energy and transport expenses.
Climate shocks in Ivory Coast and Ghana throughout 2023, such as extreme rainfall, disease, drought, and swollen shoot virus, reduced cocoa yields and contributed to price rises. Cocoa prices reached approximately $12,000 per tonne late last year, about three times higher than 2023 levels and roughly double those of 2022.
Additionally, growing demand from countries like India and China adds to cocoa demand and price volatility. Farmers often are price takers outside the Fairtrade scheme, which aims to reduce volatility but lacks comprehensive coverage.
UK-specific pressures also affect prices, including a packaging tax, increased national insurance contributions, a higher minimum wage, and rising energy and transport costs. The Food & Drink Federation highlights that member outlays, excluding labour, regulatory, and finance costs, have risen 39% from 2020 to 2025.
Since October, multi-buy offers have been banned on these products. Large producers benefit from economies of scale, with chocolate bars containing 70% cocoa experiencing the most significant price increases.
While some special offers remain available, such as discounted Advent calendars, the general trend shows widespread price increases and size reductions across Christmas chocolate products.
