Easter chocolate has seen a 12.6 per cent price rise in the UK this year, according to consumer watchdog Which?.
West Africa, which produces 70 per cent of the world’s supply of cocoa, has been hit over the past 12 months with both dry weather and bean disease, leading to a huge soar in prices and a rush from chocolate companies to secure a supply from other cocoa-producing countries.
For real-life Willy Wonka Joe Vaughan, all hands are on deck with plenty of eggs still to make and Easter only days away.
He has been running 1683 Chocolate Place in Knowle, Solihull, for more than eight years and spoke to GB News about the inflation he’s seeing as a chocolatier.
Chocolatier Joe Vaughan said: 'This year we’re facing a particularly difficult time with cocoa'
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He said: "Last year there was a massive energy crisis and our energy bills went up five times from what they were before, which was ridiculous.
"This year we’re facing a particularly difficult time with cocoa - which is obviously the main ingredient in chocolate - that’s gone up significantly over the last year.
"This time last year it was $2800 (around £2,217) per tonne. It has just peaked this week at $8800 (around £6,970) per tonne."
Britons across the UK are estimated to spend £415million on Easter eggs this year, and with Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Easter all falling within weeks of each other, it’s been a busy time.
Joe believes that consumers are looking for independent shops like his. He told GB News: "This year’s definitely busier than last year and previous years before, which is fantastic.
"People really seem to be wanting to appreciate good quality chocolate and finding more independents to support.”
Between 80-90 million Easter eggs are expected to be sold in the UK this year. For the average child, that works out to more than eight eggs each.
In Birmingham, increased costs of Easter eggs are causing a dilemma for some.
One woman told GB News: “I’ve literally been thinking about this today. I don’t know whether I go big because I’ve got a toddler, or whether to give him something healthy and not give him any eggs at all." She asked: "I don’t know - is that mean?!"
One man said: "Oh, I love chocolate, don’t get me wrong, but I’ll probably just buy a pack of Magic Stars or something, not an Easter egg."
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Between 80-90 million Easter eggs are expected to be sold in the UK this year
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Another woman added: "Usually I’d buy more but, because of the cost of living and everything going up, I’ve had to reduce what I buy for people."
In other Easter news, M&S has launched several treats and desserts to mark the holiday. Customers can't wait to get their hands on the retailer's Hot Cross Bun Cake.
GB News recently put some Easter eggs to the test with Patrick Christys sampling treats from Tesco, Aldi, M&S, Cadbury and more.