UK office workers spend £57m a week on chocolate – Virgin Media O2

Office workers in the UK spent an estimated £57m a week on chocolate, according to data from Virgin Media O2 Business’ Movers Index. 

Spending on sweet treats at work went up as more people returned to offices, despite 82% saying they had changed their spending habits due to rising costs.

More than half of workers were more likely to buy snacks and chocolate in the office than when working from home. 

Of those, 52% said it was a reward for going in, and 24% bought more in the past three months. Research found that coffee, soft drinks, sweets, chocolate and breakfast items were the most common purchases. 

The most popular chocolate bars were Cadbury Dairy Milk, KitKat, Cadbury Twirl, Kinder Bueno and Galaxy.

38% said buying treats helped boost energy, 37% used it to improve their mood and 34% saw it as a chance to take a break. 

This trend stood out among Gen Z workers, with 86% buying a treat at least once a week.

A third of businesses increased office perks and amenities, with food-based benefits including free lunches, drinks, snacks and pizza.