The houses that hand out full-size candy bars just saw their stock tick even higher . . .
CNN did a big feature on how shrinkflation could affect your CHOCOLATE consumption this Halloween.
Cocoa prices have more than doubled since the start of the year thanks to severe weather and droughts in West Africa. It’s responsible for about 70% of the world’s cocoa supply.
Candy companies are compensating by shrinking bags and raising prices. But there’s also talk of them using LESS CHOCOLATE in some products.
It says you might see them, quote, “swapping out a layer of chocolate for other fillings, like wafers or nuts.” (!!!) Or, they might fill their variety packs with candies that don’t require as much chocolate.
Candy companies are also pushing their non-chocolate candies more than before. The folks at Mars say they’ve expanded their fruity and gummy candy lines, because young people like that stuff. But chocolate prices have a lot to do with it too.
A lot of variety packs have also shrunk. So, you might pay the same as you did last year, but get less candy in each bag.
Add it all up and it means your kid’s Halloween haul might have more fruity candy in it this year . . . and fewer chocolate bars for you to steal.
(CNN)