Brits are being warned that chocolate prices are expected to rise even more across all major supermarkets. In some retailers, the price of a large Cadbury's Dairy Milk has risen to £6, and now chocolate makers have warned that shoppers must "prepare to pay more". The price of chocolate is at an all-time high, following a poor cocoa harvest in December 2024. According to the Express, the price of cocoa peaked at a "record-breaking" $12,900 per tonne. Chocolate makers have warned that the price of cocoa is at an all-time high because of poor harvests. They say they may have to reduce the size of their chocolate bars or, in some cases, even change the recipe, replacing cocoa butter with cheaper oils and fats.
The co-founder of the chocolatier Russell and Atwell, Giles Atwell, told the outlet: "The spike was driven by a -14% drop in global production, extreme weather in West Africa, and crop disease like cacao swollen shoot virus." He added, "For anyone working with chocolate, pricing right now is nothing short of a nightmare – even before you factor in global tariff uncertainty." Currently at Tesco, the price of a Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar Large is £5, while at Asda, the same bar is £4.98. At Sainsbury's, the large Cadbury bar is £5.85, and at Morrisons, the bar is £5.
Many have questioned whether the price of chocolate will soon decrease; however, head of cocoa at Marex, Jonathan Parkman, has told Brits to expect it to remain high for some time. He told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "The price of chocolate is going to remain high and will probably go a little bit higher than they are now currently. We're actually at a very sensitive period. If we have another shortfall, prices will go even higher than they have done so far."
In related news, almost half of Brits admit they would swap traditional Easter Eggs for a chocolate bar to get more value for money. The cost of Easter eggs has risen over the last few years, and it seems that Brits may be tired of paying the price. A recent survey from MyVoucherCodes has revealed that getting more chocolate is far more egg-citing! The research found that regionally, a chocolate bar instead of an Easter egg is the preference for those living in Northern Ireland, with 61% admitting they’d prefer a slab of chocolate. Londoners are next in line, with 54% opting for a bar instead of an egg.
According to the research, the nation's current favourite egg of choice is the Cadbury Mini Egg. The mini eggs special chocolate Easter egg with 2 x 38g bags of mini eggs included weighs 309g in total and costs a whopping £9.35. However, three Cadbury Mini Egg bars weigh 330g and cost just £7.17, a saving of £2.18. Those who love Mini Egg bags can also get more for their money if they shop solely for the packets of eggs. Four 80g bags are £7.40, so you’d be saving £1.95.
MyVoucherCodes shopping expert, Sarah-Jane Outten, said: "The research shows that people are willing to make a compromise when it comes to saving money on treats. Shoppers are becoming more savvy and are finding ways to get more for their money." With this in mind, Sarah-Jane shared other ways people can save money this Easter. Consider gifting friends and family with chocolate bars instead of Easter eggs. Larger families or groups of friends might appreciate a box of chocolates as an alternative, too. A box of chocolates generally works out cheaper and can feel like a special treat.
Additionally, keep an eye out for supermarket deals; they change regularly on the run-up to Easter, so check regularly for 3 for 2 offers and other deals. If you want to risk buying your Easter eggs last minute, you may find they are reduced in price the later you buy. Look for brand alternatives as budget supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi offer similar eggs to the big brands at cheaper prices. For example, an 80g bag of Aldi’s Dairyfine Mini Chocolate Eggs is just £1.25.
Remember to make use of loyalty and reward cards like Nectar and Tesco Clubcards. Not only can you spend points on Easter goodies, but you can also snap up eggs at Clubcard prices. Check supermarket comparison sites like Trolly.co.uk and mysupermarketcompare.co.uk for the cheapest prices. This saves time before you head out to the shops looking for bargains. Lastly, check MyVoucherCodes for discount codes and vouchers from the UK’s biggest retailers. There are regular deals from supermarkets, high street stores, and more.
This online survey of 2000 UK adults who celebrate Easter was commissioned by Front Door Comms on behalf of MyVoucherCodes and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society's code of conduct. Data was collected between February 25, 2025, and March 3, 2025. All participants are double-opted in to take part in the research and are paid an amount depending on the length and complexity of the survey. This survey was overseen and edited by the OnePoll research team. OnePoll is a MRS Company Partner, has corporate membership of ESOMAR, and is a member of the British Polling Council.
