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KATHMANDU, May 1: Imported chocolates have become dearer by 10 to 17 percent due to price hike by manufacturers themselves and rise in local transportation costs.
According to traders, price of leading chocolate brands like Toblerone, Dairy Milk, KitKat, Cherir, Bernique, Alfredo, Snickers, Bounty, and Mars has increased in the local market.
These chocolates are mainly imported from countries like India, Malaysia, Germany, England, China, Thailand and Switzerland.
Binod Giri, sales executive of Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket at Koteshwar, said rise in transportation costs has raise prices of not only chocolates but also other food items.
Rise in prices, however, has not affected demand for chocolates. “”Price rise has not affected demand for chocolates as they are consumed by customers of every age be it children, teens or middle aged,” said Babita Giri, cashier at Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket, Koteshwar.
People buy chocolates for themselves as well as to gift to their loved ones on special occasions. “Demand for chocolates increase on special occasions like birthdays, Valentine´s Day, anniversaries and Tihar among other festivals,” said Sabin Bhattarai, one of the proprietors of Shop@Kaya, Ghattekulo.
Chocolates are among the highly salable items in stores as they not only sweeten our taste buds but also contain variety of beneficial ingredients that help us remain physically fit.
Anisha Sapkota, who was buying chocolates at Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket, Koteshwar, said she usually carries chocolates as she has fluctuating blood pressure and chocolates help balance it.
Though demand for chocolates varies according to taste and price, traders say Dairy Milk and Snickers are popular among Nepali consumers.
Most of the stores import chocolates from foreign countries because local chocolate brands have yet to win the hearts of customers.
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