Easter eggs - who wins in battle for best value?

Easter Eggs.

If you are looking for value for money this Easter, cast your eye over the hill.

The Bay of Plenty Times surveyed six popular Easter eggs to compare weights and prices, and the two that came out on top were made by Waikato Valley Chocolates in Hamilton.

Compared were the Lindt Gold Bunny, Cadbury Favourites, Cadbury Charlie the Easter Chick, Walkers Milk Chocolate Egg with Turkish Delight, Waikato Valley's hollow bunny and eggs and Waikato Valley Milk Chocolate Buttons.

Waikato Valley's hollow bunny and eggs was the best value for money at 3 cents a gram, while the company's milk chocolate buttons egg came a close second at 4 cents a gram.

While all the chocolates surveyed were heavier than their advertised weight, the Waikato Valley hollow bunny and eggs was by far the most generous, being 21 grams heavier than the 230 grams stated on the packet.

The least value for money was the Lindt Gold Bunny, at 7 cents a gram.

The survey did not take into account individual taste or chocolate quality.

The Warehouse Tauranga store manager Andrew Long said when it came to popularity, the Cadbury brand was still a firm favourite, as were marshmallow eggs and hollow chocolate bunnies.

Licensed products, which tended to include non-edible gifts such as cups and stickers, also held their favour. This year's selection included Planes, Iron Man 2 and Angry Birds for boys and Disney fairies, Smurfs and Dora for girls.

"We recognise that Easter's not all about chocolate," Mr Long said.

"At the front, we have non-chocolate Easter solutions, like soft toys."

At speciality chocolate store Silky Oak Chocolates, in Picadilly Arcade, its award-winning marshmallow eggs are flying off the shelves.

Manager Monika Schaffner said she was selling up to 40 of the fluffy, chocolate-covered eggs a day, which were twice voted best marshmallows in a Wellington poll.

But the melt-in-the-mouth treats are not for those who are looking for a bargain.

Available in two sizes, 80 grams and 47 grams, they sell for $7.50 and $4.60, respectively.

Waikato hollow bunny and eggs - advertised weight 230g; actual weight 251g; cost per gram 3c.
Waikato milk chocolate buttons - advertised weight 185g; actual weight 193g; cost per gram 4c.
Walkers Turkish Delight - advertised weight 160g; actual wight 169g; cost per gram 5c.
Cadbury Favourites - advertised weight 190g; actual wight 205g; cost for gram 6c.
Cadbury Charlie the Easter Chick - advertised weight 198g; actual weight 204g; cost per gram 6c.
Lindt gold bunny - advertised weight 200g; actual weight 205g, cost per gram 7c.