‘Crazy’ change to Coles & Woolworths mud cakes leaves shoppers fuming
- Replies 36
We all know how delicious the chocolate mud cakes are at the supermarket. And whether it’s spoiling yourself after a long week or picking up the timeless dessert to give as a surprise gift to the grandkids, mud cakes have long been an Australian favourite.
However, it seems the prices of everyone's favourite go-to desserts are going up – and it's leaving most supermarket shoppers none too happy.
It seems that nothing is immune to inflation these days, as a long-adored dessert staple has become the latest item to receive an ‘outrageous’ price increase.
Sharing to the popular social media forum Reddit, a Coles customer revealed that the store’s Chocolate Mud Cakes are now priced at $6.40.
It was reported that in February, the popular bakery item was priced at $5.75. Prior to that, the mud cakes cost just $4.80.
Not only that but according to its website, Woolworths Cake Chocolate Mud also increased its price to $6.40 – the same price as Coles.
On Reddit, one shopper described the price increase as a ‘national tragedy’, with other Reddit users quickly following suit and slamming the rise, describing it as a ‘bloody outrage’.
‘Crazy! It seems so recently these were like $4 or even $3.50,’ wrote one disgruntled customer.
Another agreed and replied: ‘They also shrunk a bunch over the years.’
Others believe that the mud cakes were impacted by ‘shrinkflation’, a term that’s been popularised in recent years and used to describe when consumer costs increase but the amount of product you receive ‘shrinks’ or is visibly reduced. Shrinkflation isn’t a separate entity from inflation. Rather, it’s a specific part of it. You can read this article for more details about this phenomenon.
Earlier last month, it was reported that the beloved Maxibon ice creams had reduced the size and weight of their sweet treats to help offset their expenses. Unlike other sellers or manufacturers, however, Maxibon forewarned its customers of the size reduction.
‘Tough times mean tough changes,’ they posted on their social media platforms. You can read the rest of this story here.
One shopper wrote about how every item seems to be going up ‘another 20c’ lately.
‘So many things are now double the cost of a year ago, and the specials no longer seem very special. Saving 20c off the $6.50 price of something isn't a great saving, and the stuff on half price these days is always the cr** that no one buys anyway – some obscure item they bought a shipload of to sell once cheap and never be seen again,’ they explained.
Another responded: ‘From $4 to this in under a year. Horrific.’
‘Welp, it’s official. There is no reason for the Aussie $5 note,’ one quipped.
Others agreed it was a ‘national disgrace’ and said ‘protests should be planned for every capital city until this stops’.
Some speculated that both Coles and Woolies are ‘guilty of price gouging’.
‘After huge hikes, they have now started to advertise that they have cut prices...But only by a fraction of what they have raised them,’ they added.
‘Apparently, 100 per cent inflation seems fair?’ Someone else responded.
‘Coles have been lifting prices on things than in a month or so, dropping the price to a "LOCKED" price. Absolute scamming,’ one more replied.
Other social media users argued that, despite the increase, the mud cakes were still ‘great value’.
‘Six dollars for a whole cake is still absurdly cheap, to be fair – haven’t bought one in years, I would have thought they were at least $10,’ one remarked.
Another responded: ‘Yeah, there’s a small coffee shop in my local shops that sells small, simple cakes for $80 to $100. They’re i***ts, but yeah, $6 for a decent cake is still fantastic.’
‘It’s not even that bad, though. $6.40 for a cake is cheap as, let’s be real,’ someone else wrote.
A spokesperson for Coles responded to the claims online and explained that several factors contributed to the price hike.
‘As a result of the rising cost of raw materials and production, there have been some changes to the price of our Coles mud cakes,’ the spokesperson told reporters.
They added: ‘We know this is a popular product for our customers, and we do not take these price changes lightly.’
It is understood that the cost of raw materials across wheat, sugar and chocolate, as well as production, has led to the price increase on Coles mud cakes.
Are you shocked by this price increase? Have you noticed other price changes in the supermarket? Join the conversation in the comments below and share your thoughts!
However, it seems the prices of everyone's favourite go-to desserts are going up – and it's leaving most supermarket shoppers none too happy.
It seems that nothing is immune to inflation these days, as a long-adored dessert staple has become the latest item to receive an ‘outrageous’ price increase.
Sharing to the popular social media forum Reddit, a Coles customer revealed that the store’s Chocolate Mud Cakes are now priced at $6.40.
It was reported that in February, the popular bakery item was priced at $5.75. Prior to that, the mud cakes cost just $4.80.
Not only that but according to its website, Woolworths Cake Chocolate Mud also increased its price to $6.40 – the same price as Coles.
On Reddit, one shopper described the price increase as a ‘national tragedy’, with other Reddit users quickly following suit and slamming the rise, describing it as a ‘bloody outrage’.
‘Crazy! It seems so recently these were like $4 or even $3.50,’ wrote one disgruntled customer.
Another agreed and replied: ‘They also shrunk a bunch over the years.’
Others believe that the mud cakes were impacted by ‘shrinkflation’, a term that’s been popularised in recent years and used to describe when consumer costs increase but the amount of product you receive ‘shrinks’ or is visibly reduced. Shrinkflation isn’t a separate entity from inflation. Rather, it’s a specific part of it. You can read this article for more details about this phenomenon.
Earlier last month, it was reported that the beloved Maxibon ice creams had reduced the size and weight of their sweet treats to help offset their expenses. Unlike other sellers or manufacturers, however, Maxibon forewarned its customers of the size reduction.
‘Tough times mean tough changes,’ they posted on their social media platforms. You can read the rest of this story here.
One shopper wrote about how every item seems to be going up ‘another 20c’ lately.
‘So many things are now double the cost of a year ago, and the specials no longer seem very special. Saving 20c off the $6.50 price of something isn't a great saving, and the stuff on half price these days is always the cr** that no one buys anyway – some obscure item they bought a shipload of to sell once cheap and never be seen again,’ they explained.
Another responded: ‘From $4 to this in under a year. Horrific.’
‘Welp, it’s official. There is no reason for the Aussie $5 note,’ one quipped.
Others agreed it was a ‘national disgrace’ and said ‘protests should be planned for every capital city until this stops’.
Some speculated that both Coles and Woolies are ‘guilty of price gouging’.
‘After huge hikes, they have now started to advertise that they have cut prices...But only by a fraction of what they have raised them,’ they added.
‘Apparently, 100 per cent inflation seems fair?’ Someone else responded.
‘Coles have been lifting prices on things than in a month or so, dropping the price to a "LOCKED" price. Absolute scamming,’ one more replied.
Other social media users argued that, despite the increase, the mud cakes were still ‘great value’.
‘Six dollars for a whole cake is still absurdly cheap, to be fair – haven’t bought one in years, I would have thought they were at least $10,’ one remarked.
Another responded: ‘Yeah, there’s a small coffee shop in my local shops that sells small, simple cakes for $80 to $100. They’re i***ts, but yeah, $6 for a decent cake is still fantastic.’
‘It’s not even that bad, though. $6.40 for a cake is cheap as, let’s be real,’ someone else wrote.
A spokesperson for Coles responded to the claims online and explained that several factors contributed to the price hike.
‘As a result of the rising cost of raw materials and production, there have been some changes to the price of our Coles mud cakes,’ the spokesperson told reporters.
They added: ‘We know this is a popular product for our customers, and we do not take these price changes lightly.’
It is understood that the cost of raw materials across wheat, sugar and chocolate, as well as production, has led to the price increase on Coles mud cakes.
Key Takeaways
- A Reddit user shared a photograph showing the price of Coles supermarket's Chocolate Mud Cakes increased to $6.40.
- Woolworths also increased the price of their mud cakes to $6.40.
- Some Reddit users slammed the increase, describing it as a 'national disgrace' and a 'bloody outrage.'
- A Coles spokesperson cited the rising cost of raw materials and production as reasons for the price increase.