Mars-owned Maltesers are the second sweet to fall victim to higher manufacturing costs, KamCity.com has reported.
Over the weekend, there were reports that the popular candy had been slashed from 121g to 103g in weight, a cut of almost 15%.
A statement from Mars said: 'Like all chocolate manufacturers, we have seen the cost of raw materials rise and, while we try to absorb these pressures as much as possible, sometimes we have to make the difficult decision to reduce the size of some of our products so our consumers can continue to enjoy an affordable treat.'
Mondelez brand Toblerone upset consumers recently when the space between its delicious peaks widened considerably, sparked by rising costs.
The UK's decision to leave the European Union has driven down the pound and made imports of raw materials more expensive. In addition, chocolate makers have been squeezed by inflation in commodities like cocoa butter and sugar.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Karen Henderson. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
