PSA: Hit $8.50 for a half gallon of Grade A dark amber at the grocery store yesterday

I mean maybe it's just my area but last week the same bottle was $6.25. That's a 35% jump in 7 days. Checked the cap and it's still Vermont made, same brand. Manager said something about a freeze in Quebec messing with supply but idk if I buy that. Anyone else seeing prices spike this fast?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_olivia1mo ago

Man, I've been watching this too. But here's what no one's talking about - the Grade A dark amber is literally the same thing as what got labeled Grade B before 2020. They just changed the naming system. So now we're paying a premium for a rebranded product that used to be the cheap stuff. I checked my local co-op and their house brand amber is $5.80 but the Vermont "Grade A dark" next to it is $8.50. Same color, same thickness, different label.

emeryj661mo ago

...and on top of the rebranding thing, what about what happens when you actually cook with it? I use dark amber for baking beans and ham, and the cheaper stuff works just as good. I wonder if these price hikes are just testing what people will pay for the fancy name now that Grade B loyalists like me have to buy this one to get the same flavor. It makes me think the stores are banking on folks not knowing the history and just grabbing the pricier bottle because it says "Grade A dark" and looks premium. The real trick is finding out which local brands are still using the old Grade B syrup and selling it for what it's actually worth.

patricia2621mo ago

Totally feel you on this, it's wild how they just rebranded the old Grade B and stuck a premium price on it. The co-op comparison proves it's just marketing smoke and mirrors. Sucks that loyal customers have to dig around now just to avoid getting ripped off for the same syrup they used to buy cheap.