Latest news with #HarryMelbourne
Sky News AU
10 hours ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
'Roll over in his grave': Daughter of the late creator of Freddo chocolates lashes out at Cadbury over the rising cost of popular bar.
The daughter of the creator of Freddo chocolate has said her father would "roll over in his grave" if he saw what the chocolate costs today. Speaking to Sky News UK from her home in Melbourne, Leonie Wadin - whose late father Harry Melbourne developed the famous chocolate bar - said that her father was outraged at the bar continuously shrinking in size. 'Dad was disgusted with how small it is now and how much they charge for it,' the 74-year-old said. 'He'd roll over in his grave if he could see it now; he'd be disgusted. It was a penny chocolate. 'Since Dad died, I haven't bought a Freddo.' Ms Wadin blames Cadbury for deliberately shrinking the popular bar while increasing prices. Speaking to Sky News UK, financial expert Danni Hewson said the rising cost can be blamed on the similar rise in cost of the raw ingredients needed to make a Freddo since the days of Harry Melbourne. "Both cocoa and sugar prices have shot up, with the former up more than 750 per cent between then and now, and raw sugar prices up almost 250 per cent," she said. "So, finding that the price of a Freddo has jumped 200 per cent in the intervening period shouldn't surprise anyone." In Australia, where the bar sold originally for a penny (42 cents in today's money) prior to the introduction of the dollar, it now can cost $2. In a statement to Sky News UK, Cadbury said that it was aware of the cost of living problems in society and said that where possible it had attempted to absorb costs rather than pass them onto consumers. "Freddo has endured popularity across generations since originally launching in the UK back in 1973, and continues to be a key part of Cadbury's range today,' it said. "Whist it's important to stress that as a manufacturer we do not set the retail prices for products sold in shops, our manufacturing and supply chain costs have increased significantly over the past 50 years, and Freddo has become more expensive to make.' "We have absorbed these increased costs wherever possible, however on occasion we have made changes to our list prices or multipack sizes to ensure that we can continue to provide consumers with the Freddo that they love, without compromising on the great taste and quality they expect."
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Freddo creator is ‘rolling in his grave' at new price, says daughter
The creator of the iconic Freddo frog chocolate bar would be 'rolling in his grave' if he could see the current price of the small Cadbury treat today, according to his daughter. A single 35g bar retails for $2 in Australian retailers such as Woolworths and Coles, after suffering a 100 per cent price hike in August last year that Cadbury said was due to the 'record global price of cocoa and increased input costs'. When the bar was first introduced by the MacRobertson's Chocolate Factory in Fitzroy in 1930, it cost just a penny to buy. And Leonie Wadin, whose father Harry Melbourne first crafted the frog-shaped bar, says its affordable price point was an integral part of the chocolate treat's integrity. 'Dad was disgusted with how small it is now and how much they charge for it,' the 74-year-old told Sky News. 'He'd roll over in his grave if he could see it now; he'd be disgusted. It was a penny chocolate. 'Since Dad died, I haven't bought a Freddo.' The popular treat-sized chocolate has become the poster child for 'shrinkflation' in recent years, with many consumers airing frustration as the size of their favourite snack items reduce in size, while the price either remains stagnant or goes up. Chocolate has been hit particularly hard by rising costs and inflation. The price of cocoa has more than doubled in the past year as poor weather conditions in West Africa, the largest cocoa-producing region in the world responsible for 70 per cent of supply, devastated crops. This has forced major manufacturers such as Cadbury owner Mondelez to pass on some of those costs to customers. But those who enjoyed the affordability that a Freddo once gave have been unimpressed by the seemingly massive jump in price, which last year went from $1 to $2, and some have been quick to agree with Ms Wadin's remarks. 'I got these as a child in Australia for 5c now they are $2 each,' one said on TikTok. 'Stop I can't believe he's $2 now! That's a joke!' agreed another. As one stated: 'The price of a Freddo these days is absolutely shocking.' Harry Melbourne was just 14, according to his daughter, when he was challenged by his boss at the MacRobertson's Chocolate Factory to create a new product to celebrate the company's 50th year. Sir Macpherson Robertson, his boss, was considering a mouse, but Mr Melbourne interjected, telling him the treat wouldn't sell 'because women and children are afraid of mice'. Instead, he suggested frogs – because local children 'delighted' at catching tadpoles – which later grow into the green creatures – in nearby ponds. Three days later, and the Penny Chocolate Frogs were born. These were later renamed 'Freddo' after Mr Melbourne's friend Fred, who worked in the packing department. By the time Cadbury bought MacRobertson's in 1967, Freddo was already a household name, and more than 90 million of the chocolate frogs are sold each year. As much as the modern Freddo price would upset her father, Ms Wadin said he 'never knew' its appeal had reached his native UK, adding he would have been 'so proud' of the chocolate bar's success. Mr Melbourne died on January 24, 2007, in Epping, Melbourne, at the age of 94. Ms Wadin, who has five children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, has kept his memory alive by sharing his story. 'They're very proud of their great-granddad, they still buy them [Freddo bars], they love them,' she told Sky News. 'The Freddo has to be passed on, Freddo is never going to die. 'It will always be there … I just want it all passed down, so that the frog is always in our lives.'
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Daughter of Freddo creator says he'd be 'disgusted' by price
Leonie Wadin, 74, claimed that since the death of her father, Harry Melbourne, she has not bought one. It was first sold in the UK in 1973 before being taken off the shelves the following year. In 1994, when the chocolate bar went back on sale, it cost 10p, and it has gained a reputation for being a barometer for inflation in the UK. This country is finished. — No Context Brits (@NoContextBrits) February 8, 2025 According to Sky News, it remained at the 10p price until 2007, before it started increasing. Nowadays, it is sold for around 30-35p per bar, with some rare exceptions being sold for £1 in certain shops. Explaining her frustration with the price, Leonie, spoke to Sky News' Money team and said: "Dad was disgusted with how small it is now and how much they charge for it. "He'd roll over in his grave if he could see it now; he'd be disgusted. It was a penny chocolate. "Since Dad died, I haven't bought a Freddo." If the price of a Freddo had increased in line with inflation, today a bar would go for about 21p, not 30p or 35p, according to the Bank of England's inflation calculator. The history of the Freddo bar The chocolate bar was created by Harry Melbourne, who migrated to Australia from the UK at a young age. He was only 14 when he cooked up the bar at the confectionery company MacPherson Robertson in 1930. Leonie explained: "He said children are scared of mice, so why not a frog? Because kids go down to the lake and catch tadpoles." By the time Harry was 15, Freddo - named after his "best mate" Fred - was on the shelves in Australia, selling for a penny, Sky News adds. Cadbury then bought the company in 1967, which saw the Freddo releases internationally in some countries. Melbourne died at the age of 94 in 2007 and his legacy lives on. Leonie has five children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and they're all proud of Harry's story. She shared: "They're very proud of their great-granddad, they still buy them [Freddos], they love them." And that's the legacy she wants her family to cherish after her. "Carry on through every heritage, that's what I want," she said. "The Freddo has to be passed on, Freddo is never going to die. "It will always be there… I just want it all passed down, so that the frog is always in our lives." Recommended reading: In a statement to Sky News about the price of the Freddo, Mondelez International, which owns Cadbury, said: "Freddo has endured popularity across generations since originally launching in the UK back in 1973, and continues to be a key part of Cadbury's range today. "Whilst it's important to stress that as a manufacturer we do not set the retail prices for products sold in shops, our manufacturing and supply chain costs have increased significantly over the past 50 years, and Freddo has become more expensive to make. "We have absorbed these increased costs wherever possible, however, on occasion we have made changes to our list prices or multipack sizes to ensure that we can continue to provide consumers with the Freddo that they love, without compromising on the great taste and quality they expect."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Dad invented Freddo. He'd roll over in his grave if he knew what it costs'
The daughter of the inventor of the Freddo chocolate bar said she is 'disgusted' at how much it now costs. Leonie Wadin, 74, claimed that since the death of her father, Harry Melbourne, she had not bought one of the frog-shaped confectionaries. She told Sky News: 'Dad was disgusted with how small it is now and how much they charge for it. 'He'd roll over in his grave if he could see it now. It was a penny chocolate.' In recent years, the Freddo has become a common yardstick by which the British public track inflation. It was first sold in the UK in 1973, before being taken off the shelves the following year. In 1994, when the chocolate bar went back on sale, it cost 10p. Cost of living crisis The Freddo remained at that price until 2005, when it began increasing by about 2p every year. Today, the confectionery is sold for 30p or 35p, but has been advertised for as much as £1. Last year, a Labour MP launched a petition calling for the price of the chocolate bar to be brought down after speaking to students at a local school in his constituency. Writing on X, Patrick Hurley said: 'Twenty pence for a Freddo is too much, especially in a cost of living crisis.' If the price of a Freddo had increased in line with inflation, it would now sell for about 21p. Ms Wadin's British father invented the Freddo in 1930 while working for an Australian company while just 14. She said: 'He said children are scared of mice, so why not a frog? Because kids go down to the lake and catch tadpoles.' Almost 100 years later, her family still takes pride in their connection to the Freddo bar. Ms Wadin added: 'They're very proud of their great-grandad, they still buy them, they love them. Carry on through every heritage, that's what I want. Never going to die 'The Freddo has to be passed on, Freddo is never going to die. It will always be there… I just want it all passed down, so that the frog is always in our lives.' Mondelez International, which owns Cadbury, told Sky News that Freddo had endured popularity across generations since launching in Britain in 1973. They said: 'Whilst it's important to stress that as a manufacturer we do not set the retail prices for products sold in shops, our manufacturing and supply chain costs have increased significantly over the past 50 years, and Freddo has become more expensive to make. 'We have absorbed these increased costs wherever possible. However, on occasion we have made changes to our list prices or multipack sizes to ensure that we can continue to provide consumers with the Freddo that they love, without compromising on the great taste and quality they expect.' Earlier this month, the Bank of England warned that rising food prices could push inflation to 4 per cent. The Monetary Policy Committee said that poor global coffee and cocoa harvests were partly to blame. The price of food, clothing, air and rail fares all contributed to the rate of inflation reaching 3.6 percent last month – the highest rate since January 2024. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why daughter of man who created Freddo bar hasn't bought one since he died: ‘Dad would roll over in his grave'
The daughter of the man who created the Freddo chocolate bar has revealed the reason why she hasn't bought one since he died. Leonie Wadin's father Harry Melbourne first crafted the frog-shaped bar around a century ago in Australia, naming it after his friend Fred. When it was first introduced to the market, it cost just a penny. But Ms Wadin, 74, said her dad 'was disgusted with how small it is now and how much they charge for it,' adding: "He'd roll over in his grave if he could see it now; he'd be disgusted. It was a penny chocolate. "Since Dad died, I haven't bought a Freddo," she told Sky News. The bar has become a symbol of 'shrinkflation' in the UK – a phenomenon that sees food products both increase in size whilst subtly becoming smaller. This has been particularly pronounced in chocolate products in recent years, as weather conditions affecting global cocoa production make the cost of producing them more expensive. Relaunched on the UK market in the 1990s costing just 10p, the Freddo remained at this price until 2005, when it was re-priced at 15p. But this year, it was spotted selling in supermarkets for £1, prompting outcry from fans. Some now also hold the sweet treat as an ironic barometer of the rising cost of living in the UK, which economists say continues to sit at unsustainable levels far past the peak of the Covid pandemic and cost of living crisis. Fluctuating interest rates and inflation over the past three decades makes it difficult to verify conclusively just how pronounced the 'shrinkflation' of the Freddo is. According to the Bank of England's official inflation calculator, a product worth 10p in 1990 should only cost 24.8p in 2025. While most Freddo bars in the UK sell for around 36p, that price is still higher than the amount at which it should stand when accounting for inflationary rises. The bar has also got noticibly smaller, remaining around 18g in the UK, but shrinking to 12g in Australia. Mondelez International, owners of Cadbury, told Sky News: 'Whilst it's important to stress that as a manufacturer we do not set the retail prices for products sold in shops, our manufacturing and supply chain costs have increased significantly over the past 50 years, and Freddo has become more expensive to make. 'We have absorbed these increased costs wherever possible, however on occasion we have made changes to our list prices or multipack sizes to ensure that we can continue to provide consumers with the Freddo that they love, without compromising on the great taste and quality they expect.'
