Halloween is over and many are counting down the days to Christmas when vast amounts of chocolate will be consumed.
In October, data from analysts Kantar stated that supermarket prices are now 2% more expensive than a year ago, up from August’s 1.7%.
Households responded by sending sales of promoted items up by 7.4% over the month while full-price sales rose by just 0.3%. Overall take-home sales across the grocers rose by 2% over the same period.
Prices are said to be rising fastest, found Kantar, in markets such as chilled soft drinks, chocolate confectionery and skin care, while the average price paid for toilet and kitchen roll is 6% lower year-on-year, and dog and cat food are 4% and 3% cheaper respectively.
In September, figures showed that chocolate prices soared by 11% in the year to August.
Costs had risen significantly higher than overall supermarket food and drink prices, which increased by 2.7% over the same period, according to the latest Which? inflation tracker.
Cocoa prices had repeatedly hit new records over the last year following poor harvests caused by unusual weather in West Africa.
All this has meant our appetite for cocoa goodness has increased… as well as potential pricing. According to research from Mintel, 95% of UK adults eat chocolate with younger consumers (16-24) are the most frequent, with over half eating four or more times per week.
Some have chosen to shift from branded chocolate to own-label options though the jump isn’t reckoned to be significant. And when it comes to the festive season, our love for premium chocolate is stronger than the reins on Santa’s reindeer.
In fact, in everyday chocolate sales, the five biggest chocolate manufacturers accounts for 70% of the total retail sales in 2023/2024.
With fewer than 60 days to the big day itself, Belfast Telegraph wanted to see if any confectionery bargains could be found among the biggest supermarkets.
We’re not opting for selection boxes or advent calendars, rather tubs, pouches and boxes that are all too easy to tuck into during Call the Midwife (there’ll be tears) or watching the final episode of Gavin and Stacey.
Other stores, of course, will be offering a selection of deals including online shops such as Amazon, Cadbury Gifts and Lakeland.
Asda
Tubs of Celebrations, Roses, Heroes and Quality Street are almost as synonymous with Christmas as the EastEnders’ one-hour special.
As an aside, it’s quite easy to tuck in a few/several while you wait for your mince pies to heat up, or when swirling marshmallows in your hot chocolate.
In Asda, the tubs are on sale for £6 each but pick up two and you’ll save yourself £3. The 2 for £9 deal includes the fab four of terrific choccy tubs, but for those with a sweet tooth that isn’t chocolate-based, there’s a Swizzels assortment of family favourite sweets to enjoy. It’s usually £5 per tub so though you may only save £1 or £2 depending on what you buy with that, it’s still a saving.
Another deal is 2 for £6 on pouches of both chocolate favourites and sweeties which will save £1 per two portions. Items include Crunchie Bits, Tony’s Chocolonely Rainbow Mix and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as well as pouches of Celebrations, Heroes and Quality Street. Perfect for gifting (or regifting).
Chocolate fans can rejoice with a host of Christmassy options
Tesco
Unsurprisingly, there’s competitive pricing in Tesco as regards chocolate tubs. Its Heroes, Quality Street et al are available for £6 each but at £1.50 less if you’ve got a Clubcard. This deal is available until December 3, so make sure if you want to pick it up, you get it in time.
Running until December 3 and December 27, there’s plenty of Clubcard prices for chocolate pouches and smaller boxes. Lindt Lindor 70% Extra Dark Chocolate Truffles are reduced from £6.30 to £4.50 with your Tesco loyalty, while a box of Lindt Assorted Chocolate Choco Wafers are £4 rather than £6.
Lovers of luxury choc will reap the benefits in Tesco too if in possession of a Clubcard. The Ferrero Collection is reduced from £18 to £15 until December 27, while there’s several additional Lindt boxes all reduced by at least £2.50 per item.
Sainsbury’s
It’s another tubtastic time in Sainsbury’s with the 550-600g options available for £6.
The Nectar card kicks into good use when it comes to purchasing chocolate pouches, with savings of approximately £1.25 per item. It may not sound like much but if you’re buying four pouches for stockings or gifts, you’ll save £5 with Nectar.
Maltesers are also on offer: its 310g box is reduced by 20% to £4 while the 110g box has a 75p reduction. Here too are deals on for Lindt lovers, with 200g boxes reduced from £6.30 to £4.50 if you flash that wee purple card.
Remember too, the points add up which you can use on spending in other departments.
The Orange Twist Toblerone has a similar discount as the original milk chocolate, from £6 to £4 — bound to make your pocket happier.
Dunnes
At the time of price watching, Dunnes didn’t have a selection of the items. That isn’t to say they would be indefinitely unavailable, or that another branch wouldn’t have them in stock.
Dunnes offers a selection of chocolate that we didn’t price watch, including Butler’s boxes and various Lindt options — so if you’re a regular Dunnes shopper, you’ll still be well served.
When perusing, there were deals to be found. For example, the smaller boxes of Ferrero Rocher — are you a child of the 1980s if you didn’t pretend to be in the advert? — are on sale for £6.50 each but three for £15.
Equally, if you’ve got Raffaello fans, you can get three boxes for £15, a saving of £3.
Similarly, smaller boxes of Heroes were on sale in Dunnes for £3.50, a saving of £1.09 per box.
We also spotted Twix & Friends selection boxes on offer 2 for £4.50, a saving of 50p per two, and Heroes advent calendars for £7 each, a saving of £1.50 per item.
Iceland
The supermarket is encouraging customers to stock up early for Christmas and we have to agree.
Where possible, it’s wise to stockpile what you can so you’re not facing hefty grocery bills in December when all your focus should be on wrapping presents and not getting Sellotape everywhere.
We found similar prices for the chocolate tubs here than in other stores, in this case retailing at £6 each.
Iceland also has a 4 for £10 deal, which can save consumers up to £4 per quartet of items. Items include After Eight box, pouches of Celebrations and Quality Street plus a 185g box of Maltesers.
Jelly sweet lovers can also secure savings in this deal, with Haribo Starmix gift box usually on sale for £3, but reduced to £2.50. Love Wine Gums, Squashies or Jelly Babies? They’re in the deal too. ,
Though Iceland isn’t selling the festive Toffifee box available in other stores, for those who love the toffee and chocolate treat, you can find a 30-piece box as part of the 4 for £10 deal.
This makes a box £2.50, which is cheaper than purchasing three individual boxes.