Cost of Easter chocolates on the rise, but relief could be on the way

When it comes to demand for chocolate, Easter is right up there with Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day.

Like many things in our day-to-day lives, prices of Easter chocolates have gone up substantially in recent years, but better days could be ahead.

While ingredient costs have recently decreased, Tim Webb, KPMG Canada Partner for Supply Chain and Procurement, explains that this year’s holiday will still be impacted by increased costs from previous years, as retailers typically secure their orders months in advance.

“Everyone looks and goes, ‘okay yeah, the prices are down, why are Easter goods still expensive?’” says Webb. “(Retailers are) pricing them based on those input costs at that time.”

Dawn Nita’s shop in Orillia has been feeling the hit.

She says they have had to spike their prices on multiple occasions due to increased costs of cocoa and other raw materials.

“In January of 2023, we were buying cocoa nibs at $6.95 USD a pound. In March of 2025, the price of those cocoa nibs were $13 USD,” says Nita.

At Lachland McGurk’s Belgian chocolate shop in Alliston, he says they have managed to keep their prices mostly in check despite the fluctuating market.

“I’d say our prices have gone up probably somewhere, depending on the product, between five and ten per cent only in the last couple of years,” says McGurk. “Chocolate prices to us have gone up almost a hundred per cent.”

In terms of buying chocolates for Easter, shoppers are advised to be diligent in finding products that satisfy both their sweet tooth and budget, and to check the label for the percentage of chocolate in what they are buying.

“Under Canadian law you have to have a certain amount of cocoa solids in your chocolate to be called chocolate,” explains Nita. “Otherwise it’s a confection, or something that’s called ‘chocolatey.’”

In terms of price, some chocolatiers say the effects of ingredients decreasing in cost will not be felt in time for this Easter, but could positively influence pricing for next year’s holiday.