Which Mini Egg is King?

Table of ContentsToggleEaster Egg-citementEaster is over which means what chocolate is left on shelves is available at a discount. Within those shelves, one of the last true Easter offerings is the candy-coated chocolate egg. Some may argue it is the similar, malted-milkRobin Eggshowever, in my household, the argument is always about whose chocolate miniature egg is superior:Cadbury,Hershey’s, orFRANK?Cadbury Mini Eggs*Hershey's Eggies**FRANK cracks you upOriginUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaCanadaDescription"Solid milk chocolate eggs in a crisp sugar shell""Candy coated milk chocolate""Milk chocolate mini eggs"Ethical sourcing commitmentCocoa LifeCocoa for GoodNone2026 CAD/200g (unofficial Saskatoon comparison)$7.99$6.39$5.99* Hershey owns the rights to produce/market Mini Eggs in the United States** "Eggies" is the name given to the product imported into Canada; Americans know this treat as Hershey's Candy Coated EggsThe Milk Chocolate StandardBelieve it or not, the use of the word ‘chocolate’ is not universal. Depending on the country of origin, what is described on the label can differ by nuances, and those minute differences change how each candy tastes. It is no coincidence that Europe and chocolate have such intertwined reputations, as their standards for milk chocolate are the strictest and requires the most solid cocoa. Cocoa solids are the remnants of the bean after thebutter has been removedfrom the chocolate liquor.General steps in chocolate productionIn the United Kingdom, milk chocolatemust contain a minimumof 25% cocoa solids, 14% milk solids, and 3.5% milkfat. These conditions ensure that the chocolate produced in Europetastes smooth and earthy, allowing the chocolate notes to dominate other ingredients. Any changes to this formulation, for example if the milk used is replaced with a higher fat dairy or ingredients are added for flavour, must beclarified on the label, as the general understood definition of milk chocolate no longer fits.Canada follows similar regulations formilk chocolate(25% cocoa solids, 12% milk solids, 3.39% milkfat) andlabelling requirementsif sweetened with additives. The reduced inclusion of milk, although minor, means Canadian milk chocolate is more reliant on sugars/sweeteners and flavourings to compensate quality. Such is even more true forAmerican milk chocolate, which regulates with the same milk solid and milkfat standards as Canada, but requires aminimum 10% chocolate liquorinclusion instead of cocoa solids.The candy coating, too, can vary between products depending on the country’s ingredient availability and alternate food regulations. Many European countries have spent time cracking down on food additives and necessitating additional label warnings depending on perceivedrisk. For example, although the food colouringRed 40 or Allura Redis allowable in the United Kingdom (and, in fact, listed as a colourant forEggies),Mini Eggsopt for agents like beetroot and paprika.Titanium dioxide, the food whitening agent banned in the European Union and currently between American crosshairs, is used in FRANK’s in large part due to Canada’s evidence-based risk assessment process. If FRANK were to be available outside of Canada, which they are not, perhaps ingredients would be more representative of international regulations however, it is important to remember that the inclusion of titanium dioxide does not reduce product safety and thatsmall candy businessessometimes must rely on ingredients with long shelf lives to remain competitive with bigger brands.Cost of EasterIn large part due to climate disaster and supply chain weaknesses, thecost of cocoa is rising. When chocolate prices do not rise in response, it can force farmers to exit production, aslivelihoods can no longer be supportedby the income gap. When the price of luxury goods increases, consumers look for substitutes that provide a similar feeling when consumed that do not break the budget as badly. In the candy industry, the rise in chocolate hasmoved our preferences towards sugary, chocolate-free offerings like gummies. These are incomplete substitutes so, when major chocolate holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Easter roll around, we feel justified in our splurge.Thelimited supply of cocoais being stretched to its maximum, with many major chocolate brands altering their favourite recipes to replace the high-cost ingredients to remain competitive. The length of chocolate supply chains means we areunlikely to see true price reliefwithin the next year however, bycommitting to ethically sourced products, the industry can set the standards for fair pricing. There is no right or wrong candy-coated chocolate egg choice but there are big shifts in the cocoa market that may start making the reasons for our brand preferences more obvious.

Table of ContentsToggle

Easter Egg-citementEaster is over which means what chocolate is left on shelves is available at a discount. Within those shelves, one of the last true Easter offerings is the candy-coated chocolate egg. Some may argue it is the similar, malted-milkRobin Eggshowever, in my household, the argument is always about whose chocolate miniature egg is superior:Cadbury,Hershey’s, orFRANK?Cadbury Mini Eggs*Hershey's Eggies**FRANK cracks you upOriginUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaCanadaDescription"Solid milk chocolate eggs in a crisp sugar shell""Candy coated milk chocolate""Milk chocolate mini eggs"Ethical sourcing commitmentCocoa LifeCocoa for GoodNone2026 CAD/200g (unofficial Saskatoon comparison)$7.99$6.39$5.99* Hershey owns the rights to produce/market Mini Eggs in the United States** "Eggies" is the name given to the product imported into Canada; Americans know this treat as Hershey's Candy Coated EggsThe Milk Chocolate StandardBelieve it or not, the use of the word ‘chocolate’ is not universal. Depending on the country of origin, what is described on the label can differ by nuances, and those minute differences change how each candy tastes. It is no coincidence that Europe and chocolate have such intertwined reputations, as their standards for milk chocolate are the strictest and requires the most solid cocoa. Cocoa solids are the remnants of the bean after thebutter has been removedfrom the chocolate liquor.General steps in chocolate productionIn the United Kingdom, milk chocolatemust contain a minimumof 25% cocoa solids, 14% milk solids, and 3.5% milkfat. These conditions ensure that the chocolate produced in Europetastes smooth and earthy, allowing the chocolate notes to dominate other ingredients. Any changes to this formulation, for example if the milk used is replaced with a higher fat dairy or ingredients are added for flavour, must beclarified on the label, as the general understood definition of milk chocolate no longer fits.Canada follows similar regulations formilk chocolate(25% cocoa solids, 12% milk solids, 3.39% milkfat) andlabelling requirementsif sweetened with additives. The reduced inclusion of milk, although minor, means Canadian milk chocolate is more reliant on sugars/sweeteners and flavourings to compensate quality. Such is even more true forAmerican milk chocolate, which regulates with the same milk solid and milkfat standards as Canada, but requires aminimum 10% chocolate liquorinclusion instead of cocoa solids.The candy coating, too, can vary between products depending on the country’s ingredient availability and alternate food regulations. Many European countries have spent time cracking down on food additives and necessitating additional label warnings depending on perceivedrisk. For example, although the food colouringRed 40 or Allura Redis allowable in the United Kingdom (and, in fact, listed as a colourant forEggies),Mini Eggsopt for agents like beetroot and paprika.Titanium dioxide, the food whitening agent banned in the European Union and currently between American crosshairs, is used in FRANK’s in large part due to Canada’s evidence-based risk assessment process. If FRANK were to be available outside of Canada, which they are not, perhaps ingredients would be more representative of international regulations however, it is important to remember that the inclusion of titanium dioxide does not reduce product safety and thatsmall candy businessessometimes must rely on ingredients with long shelf lives to remain competitive with bigger brands.Cost of EasterIn large part due to climate disaster and supply chain weaknesses, thecost of cocoa is rising. When chocolate prices do not rise in response, it can force farmers to exit production, aslivelihoods can no longer be supportedby the income gap. When the price of luxury goods increases, consumers look for substitutes that provide a similar feeling when consumed that do not break the budget as badly. In the candy industry, the rise in chocolate hasmoved our preferences towards sugary, chocolate-free offerings like gummies. These are incomplete substitutes so, when major chocolate holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Easter roll around, we feel justified in our splurge.Thelimited supply of cocoais being stretched to its maximum, with many major chocolate brands altering their favourite recipes to replace the high-cost ingredients to remain competitive. The length of chocolate supply chains means we areunlikely to see true price reliefwithin the next year however, bycommitting to ethically sourced products, the industry can set the standards for fair pricing. There is no right or wrong candy-coated chocolate egg choice but there are big shifts in the cocoa market that may start making the reasons for our brand preferences more obvious.

Easter is over which means what chocolate is left on shelves is available at a discount. Within those shelves, one of the last true Easter offerings is the candy-coated chocolate egg. Some may argue it is the similar, malted-milkRobin Eggshowever, in my household, the argument is always about whose chocolate miniature egg is superior:Cadbury,Hershey’s, orFRANK?

Cadbury Mini Eggs*Hershey's Eggies**FRANK cracks you upOriginUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaCanadaDescription"Solid milk chocolate eggs in a crisp sugar shell""Candy coated milk chocolate""Milk chocolate mini eggs"Ethical sourcing commitmentCocoa LifeCocoa for GoodNone2026 CAD/200g (unofficial Saskatoon comparison)$7.99$6.39$5.99* Hershey owns the rights to produce/market Mini Eggs in the United States** "Eggies" is the name given to the product imported into Canada; Americans know this treat as Hershey's Candy Coated Eggs

United States of America

"Solid milk chocolate eggs in a crisp sugar shell"

"Candy coated milk chocolate"

"Milk chocolate mini eggs"

Ethical sourcing commitment

2026 CAD/200g (unofficial Saskatoon comparison)

* Hershey owns the rights to produce/market Mini Eggs in the United States

** "Eggies" is the name given to the product imported into Canada; Americans know this treat as Hershey's Candy Coated Eggs

The Milk Chocolate Standard

Believe it or not, the use of the word ‘chocolate’ is not universal. Depending on the country of origin, what is described on the label can differ by nuances, and those minute differences change how each candy tastes. It is no coincidence that Europe and chocolate have such intertwined reputations, as their standards for milk chocolate are the strictest and requires the most solid cocoa. Cocoa solids are the remnants of the bean after thebutter has been removedfrom the chocolate liquor.

General steps in chocolate production

In the United Kingdom, milk chocolatemust contain a minimumof 25% cocoa solids, 14% milk solids, and 3.5% milkfat. These conditions ensure that the chocolate produced in Europetastes smooth and earthy, allowing the chocolate notes to dominate other ingredients. Any changes to this formulation, for example if the milk used is replaced with a higher fat dairy or ingredients are added for flavour, must beclarified on the label, as the general understood definition of milk chocolate no longer fits.Canada follows similar regulations formilk chocolate(25% cocoa solids, 12% milk solids, 3.39% milkfat) andlabelling requirementsif sweetened with additives. The reduced inclusion of milk, although minor, means Canadian milk chocolate is more reliant on sugars/sweeteners and flavourings to compensate quality. Such is even more true forAmerican milk chocolate, which regulates with the same milk solid and milkfat standards as Canada, but requires aminimum 10% chocolate liquorinclusion instead of cocoa solids.The candy coating, too, can vary between products depending on the country’s ingredient availability and alternate food regulations. Many European countries have spent time cracking down on food additives and necessitating additional label warnings depending on perceivedrisk. For example, although the food colouringRed 40 or Allura Redis allowable in the United Kingdom (and, in fact, listed as a colourant forEggies),Mini Eggsopt for agents like beetroot and paprika.Titanium dioxide, the food whitening agent banned in the European Union and currently between American crosshairs, is used in FRANK’s in large part due to Canada’s evidence-based risk assessment process. If FRANK were to be available outside of Canada, which they are not, perhaps ingredients would be more representative of international regulations however, it is important to remember that the inclusion of titanium dioxide does not reduce product safety and thatsmall candy businessessometimes must rely on ingredients with long shelf lives to remain competitive with bigger brands.

Canada follows similar regulations formilk chocolate(25% cocoa solids, 12% milk solids, 3.39% milkfat) andlabelling requirementsif sweetened with additives. The reduced inclusion of milk, although minor, means Canadian milk chocolate is more reliant on sugars/sweeteners and flavourings to compensate quality. Such is even more true forAmerican milk chocolate, which regulates with the same milk solid and milkfat standards as Canada, but requires aminimum 10% chocolate liquorinclusion instead of cocoa solids.

The candy coating, too, can vary between products depending on the country’s ingredient availability and alternate food regulations. Many European countries have spent time cracking down on food additives and necessitating additional label warnings depending on perceivedrisk. For example, although the food colouringRed 40 or Allura Redis allowable in the United Kingdom (and, in fact, listed as a colourant forEggies),Mini Eggsopt for agents like beetroot and paprika.Titanium dioxide, the food whitening agent banned in the European Union and currently between American crosshairs, is used in FRANK’s in large part due to Canada’s evidence-based risk assessment process. If FRANK were to be available outside of Canada, which they are not, perhaps ingredients would be more representative of international regulations however, it is important to remember that the inclusion of titanium dioxide does not reduce product safety and thatsmall candy businessessometimes must rely on ingredients with long shelf lives to remain competitive with bigger brands.

In large part due to climate disaster and supply chain weaknesses, thecost of cocoa is rising. When chocolate prices do not rise in response, it can force farmers to exit production, aslivelihoods can no longer be supportedby the income gap. When the price of luxury goods increases, consumers look for substitutes that provide a similar feeling when consumed that do not break the budget as badly. In the candy industry, the rise in chocolate hasmoved our preferences towards sugary, chocolate-free offerings like gummies. These are incomplete substitutes so, when major chocolate holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Easter roll around, we feel justified in our splurge.Thelimited supply of cocoais being stretched to its maximum, with many major chocolate brands altering their favourite recipes to replace the high-cost ingredients to remain competitive. The length of chocolate supply chains means we areunlikely to see true price reliefwithin the next year however, bycommitting to ethically sourced products, the industry can set the standards for fair pricing. There is no right or wrong candy-coated chocolate egg choice but there are big shifts in the cocoa market that may start making the reasons for our brand preferences more obvious.

Thelimited supply of cocoais being stretched to its maximum, with many major chocolate brands altering their favourite recipes to replace the high-cost ingredients to remain competitive. The length of chocolate supply chains means we areunlikely to see true price reliefwithin the next year however, bycommitting to ethically sourced products, the industry can set the standards for fair pricing. There is no right or wrong candy-coated chocolate egg choice but there are big shifts in the cocoa market that may start making the reasons for our brand preferences more obvious.

Which Mini Egg is King?

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