Even though Halloween is still ahead, supermarkets are already stocking up on holiday-themed food and Christmas presents, including advent calendars.
A popular tradition during the festive season, many individuals are accustomed to purchasing advent calendars to mark the days leading up to Christmas and enjoy a small daily treat in December. However, it appears that advent calendars are becoming scarce commodities. Not only have prices increased for many chocolate advent calendars, but there are now options featuring various gifts, from beauty products to alcohol, costing hundreds of pounds.
While I understand that luxury items will naturally come with a higher price tag, I was taken aback by the costs of some chocolate advent calendars during my recent supermarket visit.
For example, the 90g Cadbury Dairy Milk advent calendar is priced at £2.50 in Sainsbury’s, whereas the Ferrero Rocher advent calendar (258g) is a hefty £17.50 this year.
As a chocolate enthusiast, I occasionally indulge in Ferrero Rocher treats during the festive period, but I question whether the brand justifies such a high cost.
Similarly, the Lindt Selection advent calendar (289g) is priced at £16 this year, while the Tedddy AR advent calendar (250g) costs £15.
The NOMO (non-dairy) Ultimate Choc advent calendar (320g) is also priced at £15, and the Tony’s Chocoloney Countdown calendar (216g) comes in at £12.
Even the Cadbury Heroes advent calendar (230g) is £7.50 this year, and the Kinder Bueno advent calendar (181g) is priced at £9.
It’s not just Sainsbury’s; individuals purchasing the Ferrero Rocher advent calendar this year will find it even pricier at Selfridges, where it retails for £24.99, while it is available for the same price as Sainsbury’s on Ocado.
Boots is offering a slightly different Ferrero Collection Chocolate Advent Calendar (259g) for £18, whereas Tesco sells the same product for £15.
What was once a charming Christmas tradition accessible to all now adds to the financial burden of a season that already concerns many individuals.
This development is particularly challenging for parents who often need to purchase multiple advent calendars for their children. Let’s hope they don’t all have a preference for Ferrero Rocher!
Attempts have been made to reach out to representatives of Sainsbury’s, the Ferrero Group, and Selfridges for comments.
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