A wave of disbelief has swept through British shoppers after a viral TikTok video highlighted the staggering price of a classic Easter treat appearing on supermarket shelves. The focus of the outrage is a family-sized bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs, spotted with a price tag of £6.20 in Tesco.
Shopper's TikTok Revelation Sparks Fury
The controversy began when Welsh bikini competitor Nickie Noo Murtagh shared a clip from her local Tesco in January 2026. She had considered buying a 256g family pack of Cadbury Mini Eggs as a final treat before resuming her diet. However, her plans were swiftly abandoned upon seeing the cost.
"Six whole British pounds and twenty pence for this bag of mini eggs," she revealed in the video, holding up the packet for her followers. In her caption, she expressed sheer astonishment: "No way am I paying £6.20 for a bag ... WTF is this price?? Used to be a £1 right??"
Her sentiment was echoed by hundreds in the comments section, with users describing the price as 'ridiculous', 'insane', and a strong deterrent from purchasing the once-affordable chocolate.
Tesco's Response and the Real Reason Behind the Cost
When questioned about the pricing, Tesco clarified that the 256g pack of Mini Eggs is available on a Clubcard offer for £5.40, stating this represents competitive pricing compared to other retailers. However, the underlying cause for the high shelf price points to a global crisis.
The key driver is the record-breaking cost of cocoa. According to the Office for National Statistics, chocolate prices in the UK surged by more than 17% in the year to October 2025. This inflation stems from a severe worldwide supply shortage.
Global Cocoa Crisis Hits UK Shelves
Britain sources most of its cocoa beans from West Africa, specifically the Ivory Coast and Ghana. A combination of factors has devastated harvests:
- Severe weather linked to the 2023 El Niño phenomenon, causing droughts and heavy rainfall.
- The spread of crop diseases like the Cacao Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV).
- The broader impact of the climate crisis on agricultural production.
As a result, global cocoa output has fallen by over 14%. In response to these soaring ingredient costs, major UK chocolate manufacturers, including Cadbury and Mars Wrigley, have been forced to raise prices and reduce product sizes—a practice widely known as 'shrinkflation'.
For many, the sight of Mini Eggs signals the approach of spring and Easter. Launched by Cadbury in 1967, the solid milk chocolate eggs with their colourful candy shells have become a seasonal staple. Yet, the 2026 season is being marked by consumer shock, as the tangible effects of global supply chains and climate change materialise in the confectionery aisle.
