Valentine’s Day sales are in full swing at department stores and other places, but chocolate prices are rising this year.
Ahead of Valentine’s Day on February 14th, a survey has been published that shows that a wave of price increases has hit chocolate directly.
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Imported brands increased by 33 yen to 433 yen
According to Teikoku Databank’s “2023 season ‘Valentine chocolate’ price survey” (announced on February 7), the price of one chocolate rose by about 7% from last year.
In 2023, 80 out of 135 brands will raise their prices, and the average price will be 390 yen per tablet. Compared to 365 yen in the previous year, it increased by 7% (25 yen).
Among them, domestic brands increased by 18 yen from the previous year to 355 yen, and imported brands such as France and Belgium, which have many high-brand products, increased by 33 yen to 433 yen.
The depreciation of the yen is thought to be a factor behind the large price increases for imported brands.
In particular, the increase in the price of imported chocolate is large.
Yen depreciation and price hikes hit Valentine’s Day
In addition, there is also the impact of the large-scale food price hike of about 5,500 items in February this year.
The price of cacao beans, which are essential to the production of chocolate, has risen by an estimated 20% on a yen basis compared to December last year.
In addition to rising energy prices, there is a large amount of sugar imported from overseas, which is susceptible to the weaker yen. Milk, whose transaction prices have risen due to rising feed, electricity and gas prices, as well as aluminum foil and cellophane used to wrap chocolate. The price of chocolate is believed to have risen as a result of the rise in the price of packaging materials such as boxes.
Prices for many raw materials such as cocoa beans, milk and sugar have increased.
“Reduce the number”, “change the shape”, and increase the actual price
On the other hand, in the “Valentine’s Day” survey of 1,000 women nationwide conducted by Gurunavi, a major restaurant information site, 80% answered that the purchase price “will not change”, indicating that the purchasing power of consumers has not declined. I can’t see
According to Teikoku Databank, the effects of high prices and the weak yen are not limited to price, such as reducing the number of chocolates to maintain affordability, and changing the shape of chocolate from hearts and rounds to squares to cut costs. But it is said that it is out.
Source: BusinessInsider
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