Chocs away! Sales soar since law to cut high-fat food

SALES of chocolate, sweets and ice cream have gone up by 27 per cent since a law was brought in to encourage people to cut down on unhealthy treats.

- Jon Coates

Government legislation banning high fat, sugar and salt products from prominent displays in supermarkets was introduced in October last year.

But chocolate sales have risen by half a million units a month in the past year, worth an extra £50million to retailers and confectioners.

Sales of chilled deserts such as ice creams, cakes and yoghurts have also rocketed since the new rules were introduced, rising by 75 per cent since October 2022.

This equated to an extra £3.8million in sales, according to research by retail analysts Reapp. It also found sweets sales increased by an extra 100,000 units a month in the same period.

In stark contrast, sales of healthier snacks have increased just one per cent in that time, showing a clear consumer preference for more indulgent treats.