Most parents know the dangers of the dreaded pick and mix so I kept a close eye on my niece and nephew as they took to the scoops. But despite them getting just 44 sweets between them (admittedly there were a few large ones), I was astonished when the bill came to £17.70.
Yes there were some large snakes in there, four to be precise, as well as four big but by no means massive cola bottles. And the rest were all quite small, including eggs, cherries and some little cherry sticks.
The price works out at a staggering £32.90 per kg of sweets, or £3.29 per 100g. To put that into perspective, a 175g bag of Haribo Tangfastics will usually set you back about £1.20, which equates to £6.80 per kg or 68p per 100g.
Tesco is currently selling a 400g bag of Tangfastics for £2.20 with Clubcard, which works out at £5.50 per kg, a sixth of the price at Kingdom of Sweets inside the Trafford Centre in Manchester, where we’d gone to enjoy the Christmas fair.
When you’re out with kids and busy shopping, it’s not always easy to take notice of everything and I have to say that the sign with the price on is very small, so it’s not that easy for shoppers to see what they’re paying. And once at the till it can feel embarrassing to start taking sweets from the bag, or leave them altogether. Plus you’ve then usually got some upset children on your hands.
As well as having a number of stalls at the Trafford Centre, including in the food court, Kingdom of Sweets also has stalls at Manchester Christmas Markets, where shoppers have previously complained about the prices.
When prices at Kingdom of Sweets have been highlighted previously, a spokesperson said: “Our prices are clearly displayed per 100g and are comparable with other premium location retailers. Staff are trained to allow customers to leave the purchase if their selection is too heavy or take some out to bring the price down.”
This time, a spokesperson for Kingdom of Sweets said: “Our products are competitively priced across the UK market, reflecting our curated selection and premium customer experience rather than a “pile it high, sell it cheap” approach.
“Our pricing model accounts for sourcing a wide selection of UK and European confectionery. Because we are a retailer and do not buy direct from manufacturers, our procurement costs are typically 20% to 30% higher than direct purchase models, meaning our retail structure cannot be directly compared to manufacturers.
“Despite significant cost increases over the last four years, we have absorbed most, limiting our price increase to only 10% to minimize the customer impact. We prioritize quality through product range (over 50% vegan/halal options) and customer experience (clearly marked prices and trained staff). We are proud to continue the cultural tradition of Pick and Mix sweets by offering this unique, customizable experience.”
