The nine Christmas products that are more expensive than last year and have less content

There are already several brands that have taken advantage of a change in the design or format to raise the prices of their Christmas products. Specifically, these are nougats and chocolates from brands such as Suchard, Lindt or Nestlé, which are mostly for sale in large distribution chains, in addition to two white brands from Día.

One of the clearest examples in which the price of the product has been reduced and has been accompanied by an increase in its price is Suchard brand chocolate nougat. In 2023, this tablet was on sale in most establishments for a price of 3.99 euros, and contained 260 grams. In 2024 it continues to cost 3.99 euros, although its weight is now 230 grams. Therefore, The price per kilo of Suchard nougat has increased by 13%despite the fact that at first glance most consumers do not detect this 30 gram weight loss.

MAIN BRANDS

Up to a 9.10% more than a year ago it costs Nestle Red Box 398 grams, a product whose packaging is smaller and also contains fewer chocolates. In October 2023, this 400 gram case and 44 chocolates It cost 10.99 euros. This year they changed the design of the box. Now it contains 398 grams and 42 chocolates (two less), although its price has risen to 11.99 euros.

The same has happened with the 200 gram case and 22 chocolates of this same brand that was sold in October 2023 for 5.99 euros. The current format weighs 198 grams and contains 21 chocolates, and its price has risen to 6.49 euros. In addition to containing less product, The box has registered a price increase of 8.35%.

In the case of the box Lindt Sweet Wishes chocolates It cost a total of 12.99 euros in its 345 gram format last year in Hipercor supermarkets. This year this size is no longer sold, however, there is one of 337 grams whose price is 13.99 euros. Therefore, there has been a price increase of 7.70% in a product whose packaging has changed and now contains less quantity (8 grams less).

WHITE LABELS

This general price increase has not only occurred in renowned brands like the above, two white label products from the Día supermarket network They have also increased their prices, despite having reduced their sizes.

The bag of assorted chocolates Temptation brand pralines It was marketed in October 2023, in a 450 gram format, at a price of 4.15 euros. This year the only format for sale is 320 gram bags that cost 4.50 euros each. These chocolates currently cost 8.4% more than last year despite containing 130 grams less. What’s more, The increase in the price per kilo of this product has skyrocketed by 52.5%.

For its part, Dulce Noel brand crispy black nougat Last year it cost 1.85 euros in its 200 gram container. Dia currently sells this nougat, with identical packaging, in a 150 gram format for 1.99 euros. The product has become more expensive by 7.5% in a year despite containing 50 grams less. For its part, the increase has been 43.45% if the price/kilo is taken into account of this Christmas product.

BIGGER, MORE EXPENSIVE

In addition, three other Nestlé brand products have undergone a change in design and format, and although in these cases the new packaging weighs more than the previous one, the registered price increase has been disproportionate.

The Red Box of 100 grams that contained 11 chocolates this year weighs 103 grams and although it really contains the same product its price has increased by 9.87% up to 3.45 euros. If you look at the price per kilo, the increase has been 6.68%.

Something similar has happened in the box of chocolates Nestle Dark Sublimein this case the 85 gram container no longer exists and now one of 87 grams is sold. If the price per kilo is taken into account, the increase in the price of these chocolates between 2023 and 2024 has been 17.5% since in Día supermarkets has gone from 3.95 euros last year to 4.75 euros this year . This has also happened with the 143 gram container, which has increased by 20.1%.

Because of this, FACUA-Consumers in Action has once again requested the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 to promote a modification of the law to force companies to incur redflation (maintaining the price of a product but reducing its content) to having it advertise for a long period of time on the labeling of the affected product. In this way, consumers could clearly know how the packaging, format or price of these products has been modified.