Those sweet treats are going to be costing you just a bit more very soon. I know that I am paying attention to this one, since my family has a “wicked” sweet tooth for Dove dark chocolate. We stock up on the stuff when we have coupons and there are sales, but the little wrapped squares tend to go very quickly unless we conserve and dole them out carefully. After recent announcements by some chocolate candy manufacturers, we may just have to do with less or without.
Mars, the maker of Dove chocolate, as well as Snickers and M&Ms has announced that it will be raising wholesale prices on its candy. Most of the price increases will be taking place by October 17th, although Mars did not mention which products would increase or by how much they will increase.
Hershey, the maker of Hershey chocolate bars, Kisses and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, made their own announcement a couple of weeks ago. Hershey is raising their candy prices by and average of 11 percent. In Hershey’s statement, they say that the company understands that the price increase may affect sales volumes, but the reason for the increase is due to the spiraling costs of materials such as cocoa, as well as the increase in the cost of fuel and utilities. Mars said their price increase is to help offset the cost of energy, packaging and raw materials.
So far, there has been no statement about price increases from Nestle, one of the trio of major chocolate makers in the United States.
Both Mars and Hershey announced a price increase back in January, just seven months ago.
What do you think of this? Do you purchase chocolate candy and will these price increases affect your consumption? Can anyone price out three candy bars in their area–one from each of the three major companies and compare prices?
Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans.
Related Articles
Are you subscribed to the Families.com Frugal Living Blog? With the click of a button, you can receive an email notification anytime a new blog is posted in the Families.com Frugal Living Blog!
Just look to the right of this blog and find the subscription center (it looks just like this picture, although you’ll have to find the “real” one just above the category listing ). Click on “Subscribe via Email”. You’ll be instantly subscribed and the email address that you registered at Families.com with will receive an instant notification whenever we post a new Frugal Living Blog! Don’t miss a thing – subscribe now!