Canadians Notice Smaller Candy Packs

This Halloween, Canadian shoppers may find their favourite treats looking familiar — but lighter. A Maple News Wire analysis of 2024 and 2025 retail ads reveals that Mars Inc. and The Hershey Company have reduced the weight of several popular Halloween chocolate multipacks by as much as 17 percent, without lowering prices.

Though the number of mini-bars in each box remains the same, their total weight has dropped significantly. A Mars “fun-size” 65-bar box that weighed 782 grams in 2024 now weighs 672 grams — a 14 percent decrease. Hershey’s 50-mini-bar pack is also down 6.2 percent in weight, while its 100-bar pack shrank 3.8 percent.

Both companies say they occasionally update their product sizes and assortments to “reflect consumer preferences,” but they did not provide specific reasons for the reductions.

Rising Cocoa Costs Behind the Change

Global cocoa prices have more than doubled over the past two years, driven by extreme weather in West Africa, the world’s leading cocoa-producing region. Poor harvests have cut supply, pushing costs higher for chocolate makers.

“Sometimes those farmers don’t have the financial capacity to replant after a bad season, which limits global supply,” explained Jordan LeBel, a food marketing professor at Concordia University. “Companies then face higher costs, and shrinkflation becomes one way to protect margins.”

According to Statistics Canada, confectionery prices increased 10 percent nationwide over the past year, amplifying pressure on producers already coping with expensive ingredients.

The Quiet Cost of Shrinkflation

Consumer advocates argue that shrinkflation is misleading, as it hides a price increase behind familiar packaging. “It’s not really transparent,” said Sylvie De Bellefeuille, a lawyer with Option Consommateurs. “If Canadians knew a product had been downsized, they could make better-informed decisions.”

While Mars and Hershey emphasize value and variety, consumer groups say the changes highlight the need for better disclosure when products shrink. The practice, they add, is particularly concerning as Canadians continue to face elevated grocery costs.

Calls for Clearer Labeling

Several countries, including France and Brazil, already require stores to alert customers when a product’s weight or volume decreases. Advocates want Canada to follow suit by mandating temporary labels or shelf notices when downsizing occurs.

“If companies want to sell a smaller product for the same price, that’s their choice,” said De Bellefeuille. “But they should be upfront about it for a certain period of time.”

However, Professor LeBel notes that enforcing such transparency could be complicated. “How will regulators police it, and what penalties would apply?” he asked.

Federal Oversight Underway

The federal grocery task force, created in 2023, has been investigating shrinkflation as part of a broader review of retail practices affecting consumers. Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada confirmed that it has funded multiple studies into pricing tactics and transparency in the food sector.

ISED also promotes public tools like the Food Price Data Hub, designed to help Canadians compare grocery prices and track packaging changes over time.

What It Means for Shoppers

For now, experts advise Canadians to check product weights and unit prices before buying Halloween candy or other grocery staples. While shrinkflation may help manufacturers weather supply challenges, consumers ultimately shoulder the cost.

The post Halloween Candy Shrinks—but Prices Stay the Same first appeared on Maple News Wire.

Canadian Families Make Halloween More Accessible

Inclusive Traditions Take Root in Ontario Neighborhoods

This Halloween, families across Canada are reimagining trick-or-treating to make it more inclusive for every child. In Hamilton, Ont., residents like Mercedes Palermo are serving treats from the curb rather than the doorstep — part of a growing national movement known as Treat Accessibly, which aims to remove barriers for children with disabilities and neurodivergent trick-or-treaters.

A Family’s Effort to Make Halloween Enjoyable for All

For Palermo, the initiative is deeply personal. Her six-year-old daughter Camila is autistic, and sensory sensitivities often make Halloween overwhelming. By creating a calmer, more predictable environment, Palermo hopes to make the holiday something Camila — and others like her — can truly enjoy. “Let people enjoy the night,” Palermo said, encouraging others to drop expectations about costumes or verbal greetings.

Tips for an Accessible Halloween Experience

Treat Accessibly encourages families to hand out candy from a driveway, garage, or vehicle trunk to eliminate stairs and provide ground-level access. It also suggests non-edible treat options and discourages bright lights or sudden noises. These simple adjustments can transform Halloween into a celebration everyone can join without stress or exclusion.

From a Single Sign to a National Movement

The Treat Accessibly initiative began in Oakville, Ont., in 2017, when founder Rich Padulo and his daughter Siena realized that a child using a wheelchair couldn’t access their home. That realization sparked an idea — a sign announcing their home as “accessible.” The next week, they handed out candy from their driveway. The idea spread quickly through the community. This year, Padulo says the group expects to distribute over 300,000 signs nationwide.

National Support and Growing Recognition

The movement has caught national attention — including a mention in the House of Commons by Carleton MP Bruce Fanjoy, who praised it as “a reminder that inclusion is not a barrier but an opportunity.” Corporate partners like Pet Valu and Kinder have also joined the cause, helping distribute signs and raise awareness through their networks.

Building Communities Through Accessible Villages

Since 2021, Treat Accessibly has hosted “villages” — accessible trick-or-treating block parties — in cities across Canada. This year’s events took place in Surrey, St. Albert, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, and Hamilton. Palermo, who attended the Hamilton event, called it “remarkable,” noting how daytime hours and predictable setups make it easier for her daughter to participate fully.

Inclusion That Lasts Beyond Halloween

As the Treat Accessibly signs become a common sight across Canadian neighborhoods, Palermo says the movement has already made a difference. “To be able to enjoy holidays and things like Halloween without feeling judgment or pressure — it really does mean everything,” she said.

The post Canadian Families Make Halloween More Accessible first appeared on Maple News Wire.