Same festive box, fewer nuts: Diwali hampers feel the pinch with soaring dry fruit prices

Pune: The tradition of gifting dry fruit boxes this Diwali comes with a significantly higher price tag, with pistachios costing up to 70% more than last year and almonds becoming around 25% dearer. The price rise is squeezing festive budgets for households and corporate buyers, prompting customers and hamper makers to rethink the contents of gift boxes while trying to preserve their festive appeal.Wholesalers in the city said almond price has risen from Rs 750-1,000 per kg last year to Rs 850-1,200 per kg this year. Pistachio price has climbed from Rs 1,500-2,100 to Rs 2,300-3,000 per kg, while cashews have become dearer, with the rate increasing from Rs 800-1,300 to Rs 900-1,400 per kg.Traders attributed the price rise to tighter supplies from key producing countries, lower-than-expected almond production in California, and higher freight and transportation costs.“Since India imports a substantial share of its dry fruits, the rupee’s depreciation against the US dollar has increased the amount importers pay in rupees for shipments priced in dollars, adding to costs ahead of Diwali,” said Koustubh Mane, a dry fruit trader from Pimpri.For Mayank Dave, a shopkeeper in Aundh, the change is evident in customer orders. “Clients are ordering smaller quantities but retaining the larger packaging. The boxes look just as substantial, but each section contains less dry fruit than it did last year. People want to maintain the presentation of a festive gift without increasing their budgets proportionately,” he said.Arif Shaikh, a shopkeeper in Kondhwa, said customers were also changing the mix of nuts in their hampers.“People are avoiding the more expensive varieties and replacing them with cheaper alternatives. In boxes with four, six or eight compartments, customers are opting for more raisins, almonds or cashews instead of pistachios and other costlier nuts. They still get an assorted box, but its contents are adjusted to fit their budget,” he said.Event manager Meenakshi Nair said the shift extended beyond conventional dry fruits, with customers exploring alternatives to keep costs in check. “People are looking at options such as sunflower and watermelon seeds to add variety without pushing up costs. Another option is flavoured cashew pieces. Broken cashews are cheaper than whole nuts, and adding powdered flavours such as cheese or peri-peri can make them an attractive component of a hamper rather than simply a lower-cost substitute,” she said.These changes reflect the challenge of balancing the perceived value of a gift with its actual contents. Packaging, the number of compartments and the variety on offer all contribute to a hamper’s appeal, even as the quantity of premium nuts declines.This Diwali, the box may look much the same, but what goes inside it is changing.