Easter chocolates, watch out! The consumer organization UFC-Que-Choisir has uncovered that some of your beloved treats have gone up in price. Don't let yourself be surprised when purchasing your holiday sweets!

undefined undefined 28 mars 2024 undefined 14h50

undefined undefined 28 mars 2024 undefined 16h45

The Editor

© Aleksandra Suzi / Shutterstock

It's that time of year again! The shelves at our supermarkets are filled with bells, bunnies, eggs, and chocolate treats for Easter. While egg hunting brings excitement to children, for parents, it usually means higher prices. Yes, inflation is playing a part, but it's not just that.

As Easter approaches, parents and grandparents rush to their favorite Parisian chocolatier or to the confectionery aisles of their supermarkets for the traditional egg hunt, undoubtedly one of the favorite moments of the year for little (and big) children. Unfortunately for the French, Easter is a much less exciting holiday for the wallet: according to a study published by the UFC-que-choisir association, in 2024, prices have increased on average by +5% at the cash register compared to the year 2023, more than the i Food prices over one year increased by 3.6%. The study was conducted on 80 chocolate confectioneries including major brands like Ferrero Rocher, Lindt, Kinder, and Milka. Major brands under scrutiny According to the association, when it comes to chocolate, "prices have increased more than the average for food." This increase seems to be even more significant for the "star" brands of Easter celebrations. UFC-Que Choisi.R cites examples such as Ferrero's 6-pack of Kinder Surprise Easter eggs, sold 11% more expensive than last year, and the Ferrero Rocher Easter bell, 8% more expensive than in 2023. It's no better on the side of the brand with the purple cow - Milka's bag of mini eggs also showing an 8% increase - or at Lindt, which has a 6% increase for its legendary gold bunny. "Profit margins are... unjustified" According to the association, "some prices per kilo reach unjustified amounts considering the industrial nature of chocolates ». This includes the price of certain products such as the Maxi Kinder Surprise, sold at 60 €/kg in supermarkets, or the classic Kinder Surprise at 56 €/kg, while "a bar of milk chocolate made with equi

Valent ingredients costs about ten euros per kilo, or even less for some store brands. Some industrialists justify the price increase due to the unprecedented surge in cocoa prices. On March 27, FranceInfo revealed information that. The price of cocoa is now higher than the price of copper, due to heavy rains in West Africa leading to a poor harvest in 2023. However, UFC-que-choisir believes that "for industrial products, containing many additives and flavors, and with some of the fats being palm oil, it is a very expensive price to pay."