Less chocolate in Cadbury box as cuts bite at Christmas

CADBURY has cut the size of its selection box for the third year in a row as “shrinkflation” affects Christmas.

Though it contains 24 grams less chocolate than three years ago, the selection box is still the same price, £2 in most supermarkets.

Previously the box contained a 40g Double Decker and 30.5g Wispa, but this year customers will only get 37.3g and 27.9g respectively.

Shrinkflation refers to the practice where businesses reduce the size of products but charge the same.

In 2019, a study from the Office for National Statistics found that more than 200 products, mostly food and drink, were affected by shrinkflation between 2015 and 2017.

Last month it emerged that Walkers Crisps was trimming the size of its multipacks from 24 bags to 22, while the £3.50 price remained the same.

KP has reduced the weight of a £2.50 bag of peanuts from 250 to 225g.

Five years ago Toblerone buyers were outraged after the gaps between the triangles were widened, reducing the weight of the chocolate. The move was reversed after a backlash.

A spokesman for Mondelez, which owns Cadbury, said: “We know Cadbury fans love our products, which is why we will always look to absorb as many additional costs as possible.

“However, we sometimes have to make decisions to slightly reduce the size or weight of our products to continue keeping them as affordable as possible, while keeping the great quality taste fans of Cadbury expect.

“It’s worth noting too that ultimately, it is retailers who set the price of products in-store.”