What chocolate to buy instead of Cadbury's shrinking family block

Abigail Dougherty/Stuff
Following the shocking news that Cadbury will shrink the size of its family-sized chocolate blocks to cut costs, Darren Bevan and Sinead Corcoran investigate the best choc for your buck.

 Following the shocking news that Cadbury will shrink the size of its family-sized chocolate blocks to cut costs, we conducted a very unscientific investigation into the best and most cost-effective alternatives.

In a statement earlier this week, Cadbury marketing director Paul Chatfield vowed that Cadbury blocks would continue to be the best-value chocolate block of all the major branded manufacturers.

After some quick and very dodgy maths, we did find this to be true, but if you can't deal with any more of Cadbury's downsizing   – we've worked out what to buy instead.

The Cadbury block in question is currently retailing for the recommended price of $3.79 for 200g – 32 squares at a cost of about 11.8 cents per chocolatey cube.

We've crunched the numbers and selflessly tasted them all - here's how to get more choc for your buck.
Abigail Dougherty
We've crunched the numbers and selflessly tasted them all - here's how to get more choc for your buck.

Cadbury to shrink some family chocolate blocks by 10 per cent because of costs
Unwanted Cadbury factory items to go under hammer
Cadbury downsizes more products 
Caramilk chocolate in Australia recalled for containing plastic

Following the size decrease, consumers will effectively lose 3.2 squares from their beloved bars.

Under new regime, which would be 28.8 squares, chocoholics will be paying 13.1 cents per square. 

Cadbury's announcement confirming the shrinkage plans.
SCREENSHOT
Cadbury's announcement confirming the shrinkage plans.

If you're wanting a cheaper Cadbury alternative, Cadbury Crunchie is $4.50 for a larger-size block, which has 63 squares in it. That works out to be about 7 cents a square, meaning it's the best- value block – assuming of course that you're a hokey pokey fan.

For $10, you can get a 540g box of 38 Cadbury's Favourites, which works out to be about 26 cents per wrapped piece of goodness. Assuming you only like about two of the 11 flavours however – you're probably better off investing in a whole block of one of your actual favourites.

If you're dead set on boycotting the brand however, we recommend giving Whittakers and Nestle a whirl.

Can confirm Favourites are no favourite of ours.
Abigail Dougherty/Stuff
Can confirm Favourites are no favourite of ours.

At $4.99 for 40 squares, you can get a block of Whittakers' Dark Salted Caramel, which works out to be just 12.4 cents a square and is, in our humble opinion, miles above Cadbury in terms of taste.

Nestle's Kit Kat Block also costs just $3.39 for 170g, which works out to be 15.4 cents a finger, given there are 22 in the pack.

This being said however, you probably don't really care about getting the best deal because taste vs how sick you feel afterwards is all that really matters when you're drowning your sorrows on Sad Single Sunday

In this instance and if you're chasing luxury over money cos you're a lonely one looking to assuage the salty taste of tears, we recommend opting for a "punnet" of Ferrero Rochers.

Due to their light wafer layers and creamy, but decadent hazelnut filling, you get away with eating less but feeling just as satisfied.

A box of 16 of the treats goes for around $8 – that's a 50 cent outlay for each one.

While Toblerone is the most expensive per chunk – coming in at 63 cents per chocolate pyramid – taste-wise it's also miles above your generic supermarket brands, and will also remind you of being at the airport which is almost as good as being reminded of being on holiday.

Stuff