Chocolate spiced nuts are a quarter more expensive this year than a year earlier, due to the further increase in cocoa prices. It was reason for Van Delft, which serves approximately three-quarters of the Dutch market through private labels and its own brand, to exchange the kilo bag of chocolate spiced nuts for a 750 gram bag.
‘Consumers pay more for less’
“We expected a small decline in the chocolate variants, but they appear to be as popular as ever. We lose some volume with the large bags, but the 200 and 300 gram bags are actually selling better. People buy a small bag more often,” says director Oscar de Lange.
Do not pass on costs
Bolletje did not pass on all the increased costs, because it was afraid that customers would otherwise drop out. The kilo bag also changed into a 950 gram bag in order to reduce the price slightly. Natural and chocolate spiced nuts sell about equally well, says commercial director Geert-Jan Zandbergen.
‘Convenience store pushes unhealthy food’
This year there are plenty of new flavors for sale, such as cookies and cream and licorice. According to Harderwijk-based Van Delft, the expansion of the supply is not a response to the increased cocoa price. “All flavors contain the same amount of cocoa, so it doesn’t matter. But people like to vary and be surprised.”
Supermarket chains
Supermarket chains Albert Heijn and Aldi also notice the popularity of the different flavors. Red velvet and white chocolate are selling well at the market leader, Aldi calls dulce de leche. Jumbo has so far sold more chocolate Sinterklaas products than last year, a spokeswoman reports.
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Due to the higher cocoa price, Verkade decided to produce 15 percent fewer chocolate letters this year than last year, a total of almost 2 million pieces. “But demand remains surprisingly stable and has so far matched our expectations well, although the real peak is traditionally between the arrival and December 5,” says the Zaandam company.