All about the look and not the taste

Wes Hosking
Herald Sun
March 20, 2012

BARGAIN chocolate Easter bunnies have more expensive rivals on the hop.

A blind taste test has found children cannot tell the difference between cheap bunnies and varieties almost five times dearer.

Of 10 bunnies Public Defender gave a family taste test, two from discount supermarket Aldi were the kids’ top picks.
One cost only 79c for 125g and the other $2.99 for 150g.

The most expensive $5.50 Lindt bunny was also a favourite – but not because of its taste.

A child liked the bell around its neck.

Real Mums founder Amanda Cox, who runs a parent support website, said the results showed the biggest attraction for children was how Easter eggs looked, not their price tag or taste.

“I don’t think they have quite the discerning taste that adults do,” Ms Cox said.

“They will just eat it because it’s chocolate.”

Public Defender had Werribee’s Robinson family, who have three children aged 3-6, try each bunny without knowing the price.

Parents Yvonne and Brett helped gauge the children’s reactions while each child picked a favourite.

Mrs Robinson said she was surprised to find her two oldest children had selected the less expensive products.
“It makes you think about picking (buying) the cheaper one,” she said.

The taste of a Macro bunny with no added sugar and a Sweet Seasons rabbit stood out as different, but the children were still happy to eat both.

The already fierce competition between Australia’s big supermarkets will become even more intense during the two weeks before Easter.

Up to 60 per cent of Easter egg sales occur during this time.

Coles is touting an own-brand 125g bunny costing $3 while Woolworths has Easter Play Time and Malteser bunnies for $1.

Aldi claimed it had the best value milk chocolate bunny on the market, with quality the same or better than brand-names.