TIMES have never been tougher for confectionery manufacturers and sweet-tooth shoppers should prepare to be hit in the hip pocket.
The price of chocolate is set to lift, with two of its key ingredients facing through-the-roof price rises, couriermail.com.au reports.
World sugar prices have hit a 30-year high, and cocoa prices have doubled in the past two years.
Nestle and Cadbury have both admitted small price rises are likely.
But it won't just be confectionery that feels the bite of a price rise.
CEO of the Australia Food and Grocery Council Kate Carnell said soft drinks, jams, flavoured yoghurts, flavoured milk, biscuits, juices, ice cream and other products would all be affected.
"Manufacturers have fought hard to absorb costs, but this is outside their control," she said.
