Overview
- Industry reports say several manufacturers have told supermarkets they want to raise list prices next year, with one request reportedly reaching up to 20 percent.
- Retail buyers argue many chocolate lines already sell mostly on promotion, and they are watching Aldi’s private‑label pricing as the key market benchmark for any 2026 reset.
- Cocoa has dropped roughly 30 percent from its December 2024 peak yet remains far above levels of recent years, while packaging, wages and energy costs continue to pressure margins.
- Major brands including Ferrero, Lindt, Mondelez and Ritter lost volume in Germany in 2025, and seasonal data show sharp holiday price jumps as promotion share climbed to about two‑thirds of purchases.
- Consumer advocates have sued Mondelez over shrinkflation, and small chocolatiers report acute strain from pricier cocoa and nuts such as Turkish hazelnuts, with new EU organic certification rules expected to add costs.