Beloved Chocolate Bar Price Soars Nearly 80% in Israeli Supermarkets

The price of a 100-gram bar of Elite milk chocolate, a popular item in Israeli supermarkets, has surged by nearly 80% in just under four years. In September 2022, the bar cost an average of 5.21 shekels, but by August 2026, it had risen to 9.26 shekels, an increase of 77.9%. This dramatic price hike is highlighted in a study by Tel Aviv University Professor Itai Attar and doctoral student Adi Omer, which examined the rising cost of food products in Israel.

Other everyday items have also seen significant price increases. A 200-gram jar of Taster's Choice instant coffee rose from 31.40 to 39.60 shekels, and an 800-gram package of Maadanat cheese borekas increased from 19.15 to 25.07 shekels. The research analyzed a basket of 80 popular food items, using monthly average price data from approximately 700 stores.

Overall, between September 2022 and August 2026, prices in neighborhood stores increased by 19.6%, online prices by 19%, and prices at discount chains by 14.5%. This rate of inflation is considerably faster than the 4.3% increase seen in neighborhood stores in the preceding four years. The study also noted a substantial rise in the cost of a shopping basket, with a basket at Shufersal Deal increasing by 231 shekels over the past four years, compared to only six shekels in the prior period.

While factors like VAT hikes and increased costs for utilities and fuel may contribute to the price increases, the researchers point out that these alone do not fully explain the surge. Notably, during the period studied, the shekel strengthened and global food prices decreased from their 2022 peak, trends that should have moderated price increases. The study concludes that production and import costs do not account for the entire price escalation.