It was Brexit wot did it.
Chocolate price hike if Brexit deal fails, warns Mars
Chocolate price hike if Brexit deal fails, warns Mars
Chocolate prices could rise if the UK does not secure a trade deal post-Brexit, according to Mars' top boss.
Fiona Dawson, global president for Mars, said the absence of a deal with EU member states would see tariffs of up to 30% for the industry.
Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, she warned this would "threaten [the] supply chain and the jobs that come with it."
Theresa May has promised to push for the "freest possible trade".
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The Prime Minister has said that if a good deal is not agreed with the EU, the UK will walk away, adding: "No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain."
But Ms Dawson fears this would see the country revert to World Trade Organisation trading rules, meaning tariffs.
"The absence of hard borders (in Europe) with all their attendant tariff, customs and non-tariff barriers allows for this integrated supply chain, which helps to keep costs down," she said.
"The return of those barriers would create higher costs which would threaten that supply chain and the jobs that come with it."
Ms Dawson said those costs could not be absorbed by confectionery companies, meaning consumers would have to pay more for their products.
Mars has factories in the UK and across Europe, with ingredients being transported between sites in France, Germany, Poland and other EU countries.
Fiona Dawson, global president for Mars, said the absence of a deal with EU member states would see tariffs of up to 30% for the industry.
Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, she warned this would "threaten [the] supply chain and the jobs that come with it."
Theresa May has promised to push for the "freest possible trade".
Could Brexit make chocolate taste bad?
May: UK must leave EU single market
The UK's Brexit plans: What we now know
What will happen to UK trade post-Brexit?
The Prime Minister has said that if a good deal is not agreed with the EU, the UK will walk away, adding: "No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain."
But Ms Dawson fears this would see the country revert to World Trade Organisation trading rules, meaning tariffs.
"The absence of hard borders (in Europe) with all their attendant tariff, customs and non-tariff barriers allows for this integrated supply chain, which helps to keep costs down," she said.
"The return of those barriers would create higher costs which would threaten that supply chain and the jobs that come with it."
Ms Dawson said those costs could not be absorbed by confectionery companies, meaning consumers would have to pay more for their products.
Mars has factories in the UK and across Europe, with ingredients being transported between sites in France, Germany, Poland and other EU countries.
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