UK Easter chocolate prices rise sharply as cocoa shocks push up costs

Prices surge before Easter

New analysis says the average price of popular Easter chocolates in UK supermarkets has risen by about two-thirds in the past three years, with some products more than doubling in price.

The figures, based on Assosia data tracking average pre-promotion prices between January and March, show some of the sharpest increases among well-known brands. Galaxy Easter eggs recorded the steepest rise, up 105% per 100g since 2023. Cadbury Creme Eggs were 81% more expensive, while a 200g Lindt Gold Bunny rose 77% to £8.42. A pack of five Cadbury Creme Eggs was up 74% over the same period.

Cocoa costs drive "Easter Eggflation"

The main driver of the jump in prices is the soaring cost of cocoa, the key ingredient in chocolate. The analysis links this to extreme weather in West Africa, where Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana produce around 60% of the world’s cocoa.

Those countries were hit by extreme rainfall in 2023 that contributed to a disease outbreak, followed by an intense drought and heatwave in 2024 that scientists linked to climate change. The combination of climate shocks and price volatility has also damaged the livelihoods of smallholder growers across the region.

Although global cocoa commodity prices have fallen since peaking in mid-2025, that decline has not yet fed through to shoppers. Much of the chocolate currently on shelves was made with cocoa bought when prices were at record highs, leaving consumer prices elevated.

Pressure on household budgets

Over the past three years, UK chocolate prices have risen 44%, outpacing wage growth and making chocolate less affordable. The effect is particularly pronounced in Britain because households spend a larger share of their food budget on chocolate, about 6%, compared with 2.4% in the Eurozone.

The analysis says this is part of a broader pattern of food price volatility. While climate change is identified as a primary driver of higher chocolate prices, wider pressures on the cost of the weekly shop have also come from volatile fossil fuel prices and disruption to global supply chains.

An ECIU analyst said the increase in Easter chocolate prices shows that climate change is already adding to everyday household costs, with chocolate only one example of the impact on food bills.