Cadbury blocks up for the chop
IT’S a dark day for chocolate-lovers – Cadbury is downsizing its big blocks to save big bucks.
Cadbury posted on its Facebook page about the move, saying ‘‘we have a change we’d like to tell you about’’.
As confectionery companies around the world were ‘‘feeling the squeeze’’, Cadbury said it could no longer absorb increasing costs into the price of its chocolate blocks. So the decision had to be made – up the price, or chop the chocolate?
The company said it wanted to keep its chocolate ‘‘affordable for families across New Zealand’’, and reduce its family-sized 220g blocks by one row.
Not everyone was receptive to the idea, with some commenters on the Facebook page pointing out that this effectively raised the price, as consumers would pay the same for less chocolate.
Others said they were ‘‘proud’’ of Cadbury for being upfront about its decision and providing consumers with reasons for the reduction in block size.
A date for the change was not available, but was set to take place ‘‘in a few months’ time’’.
Amanda Banfield, managing director of Australasia for Mondelez International, the parent company that owns Cadbury, said she expected a backlash. ‘‘We have to kind of be real about that.’’ She pointed to rising packaging costs and a lift in the price of raw materials.