Marabou chocolate bars sold in Finland will be reduced in size starting this autumn, according to manufacturer Mondelez Finland.
Large bars weighing 185 to 200 grams will shrink to 160 grams, while 100-gram bars will drop to 90 grams. The company will also reduce the size of its Aladdin and Paradis chocolate boxes from 500 grams to 410 grams.
The reduction in size amounts to as much as one-fifth of the original product weight. Mondelez said the change is a response to rising production costs, especially the global surge in cocoa prices.
“Extreme weather, particularly in West Africa where most of the world’s cocoa is grown, has driven cocoa prices up sharply,” the company stated.
Mondelez Finland CEO Niklas Lilius said the decision was made to avoid either cutting quality or significantly raising prices.
“We understand that smaller package sizes may not please consumers. But faced with the choice between steep price hikes, lowering product quality or adjusting size, we believe this is the most balanced solution,” Lilius said in a press release.
Retailers will decide the final shelf prices for the smaller-sized products.
The reduction will apply not only in Finland but also in other markets, including Sweden.
Mondelez Finland is part of the US-based multinational Mondelez International, which owns several global snack and confectionery brands.
HT
