A mum was left gobsmacked after she splurged on a sweet treat for her daughter during a trip to a Christmas market. Emma Gill, Parents Editor at Manchester Evening News, visited the festive market in the city over the weekend.
She recounted how she allowed her daughter to pick a few treats from the Kingdom of Sweets stall while keeping a close eye on what went into the bag. Despite this, she was shocked when she was told that the small selection cost £14.34.
They had chosen the stall located at the top end of Market Street, near where they had dined in Piccadilly Gardens. Writing in the MEN, she said: “No one anticipates a pick and mix stall to be a bargain, but everyone deserves an occasional indulgence.”
She continued: “I monitored what she was adding to the bag, knowing how quickly the cost can escalate. However, I was taken aback when her selection totalled a staggering £14.34.
“I didn’t want to ask for a refund once she’d added them to the bag, and I should have realised that the sign advertising £3.29 per 100g is significantly more than the usual price for sweets.”
The mum compared the cost with other popular sweets, noting that a 175g bag of Haribo costs £1.25 at either Aldi or Tesco, making it about 71p per 100g, approximately four times cheaper.
This isn’t the first time the publication has scrutinised the prices at Manchester Christmas Markets. In November, it reported that shoppers are now paying £9.50 for the most expensive meat sausages at the market.
The price of the Berlin currywurst at the Witch House stall has seen a rise from £8 last year, marking an increase of £1.50. Similarly, the cost of a jumbo piggy wrap at Porky Pig on Exchange Square has also gone up by £1 to £9.50.
Manchester City Council has stated that they have no control over the prices at the stalls, explaining that traders set their own prices based on overheads and the uniqueness of their products. Cllr Pat Karney, the council’s Christmas spokesperson, remarked: “We’re always happy to check out any complaints brought to us however we don’t set the prices on our market stalls.”
“Prices are set by stallholders themselves who at the end of the day are subject to the same market forces as any other retailer – if what they’re selling is too expensive, people won’t buy their products.”
When previously questioned about their pricing, Kingdom of Sweets responded: “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.”
Kingdom of Sweets has been contacted for comment following the experience this weekend.