The rising price of the chocolate Easter egg

By Archie Meldrum

Are consumers being priced out of their traditional Easter treat? (Image: Getty Images)

Due to the ever-present worldwide issue that is climate change, the cost of everyone’s favourite Easter time treat has risen.

Chocolate is usually made from cocoa grown in West Africa, however, a heatwave has hit the crops and subsequently cut the yields.

According to Which? an alarming statistic which signifies the rising cost of Easter eggs is that some eggs have risen in price by 50% since last year.

The shortage of cocoa has resulted in prices soaring to almost £6,700 a tonne in the past week.

The majority of the UK’s cocoa beans have come from countries in the West of Africa such as Ghana and the Ivory Coast. An extreme lack of rain also hit South Africa earlier this year as temperatures have risen above 40°C, which is a record high.

However, drought hasn’t been the only issue. In December last year, countries in West Africa experienced intense rains. These conditions resulted in a fungal infection called black pod disease which resulted in rotting cocoa beans.

A combination of these intense weather events in Africa have meant that the price of cocoa has tripled since last year and doubled in the past three months.

The Independent has reported that the overall price of chocolate has increased by 12.6% in the past year. The biggest increase in price over the past year would be that of Maltesers Truffles Luxury Easter Egg, going from £8 to £13 at Waitrose, which is a huge increase of 62.5%.

However, the people of Glasgow believe that there’s more to Easter than chocolate.

Luke, 20, from Cambuslang, said that Easter should be celebrated as a holiday rather than for chocolate eggs.

He said: “It’s something that we should celebrate as a holiday. It shouldn’t be raised too much in my opinion. It’s something to be celebrated, not something to make tonnes of money from.

“Of course, people are going to do that anyway because it’s profitable, but it shouldn't rise any higher than it is at the moment.”

Maria Stewart, 54, from Coatbridge, followed the same sentiment that Easter should be celebrated, and it possibly isn’t a bad thing that people are being priced out of chocolate eggs.

She said: “I think it’s because it’s harder to get products. The cocoa or chocolate is dearer to buy.

“Maybe not having enough chocolate eggs will put people off, which could be a good thing. Easter is more about Christianity than chocolate eggs.

“Also because of the obesity levels it might be better to buy a smaller one instead of these giant ones.”