Cadbury's classic mini chocolate bar, Freddo, has become an unlikely indicator of inflation since its triumphant return to British sweet shop shelves in 1994. Originally launched in 1974 and then discontinued five years later, the beloved milk chocolate treat made a comeback with a price tag of just 10p. But that figure has been on a steep climb ever since, with supermarkets now typically charging around 30p per bar.
Yet, this week, one Brit was left gobsmacked by the price he encountered, prompting him to post a photo on Reddit with a rather colourful caption. The post quickly sparked a flurry of reactions from hundreds of other Brits, equally astonished to see the 18g bar priced at an eye-watering £1. **WARNING – explicit language in Reddit post below, viewer discretion advised**. "I showed my wife this picture, asked whether it was time to start burning things down," one user commented. "She asked me if it was real, I told her it was. She then asked whether this picture was taken in that London. I didn't know the answer but I assume it was.".
Another person pointed the finger at retailers rather than Cadbury, saying: "I blame the retailer in this case. They are still available price marked from major wholesalers at 30p. I know these are not price marked but they aren't going to naturally be priced that differently. The retailer is robbing you blind though.". A third concurred, expressing their view: "That's pure greed by the store owner. You can get a price mark alternative for 30p. Never ever buy Non Price Mark and if you do, don't ever pay for chocolate that's above £1 for a standard bar or £1.50 for a block bar. Most profit margins are set to be about 28-35%. Absolute robbery Signed a confectionery sales specialist.".
A nostalgic Redditor user went on to recall: "I remember when I was a kid you could get a Freddo, Space Raiders crisps, Frosties sweets, a Panda Pop, a Dick Turtle lucky bag, and 10p of penny sweets all for under a pound and still have 20p change. If you was to buy all that today it would cost £10 plus and more depending where you get them from.". However, a fifth individual took aim at the brand itself, asserting:, "American private equity bought Cadbury. It’s not British. Stop buying it. If you look at anything that’s overpriced, it’s almost certainly because private equity or asset managers bought it. We need to stop these leeches stripping society.".
The beloved Freddo saw its 1994 introductory 10p cost maintained until 2005, when confectionary fans witnessed the first of several price hikes, taking it up to 12p. A decade later, the price had more than doubled to 25p, with another small increase of 2p arriving in 2017. Mondelez International, who owns Cadbury, has been approached for comment. Get our money-saving tips and top offers direct to your inbox with the Mirror Money newsletter.
