Overview
- Industry reporting says several chocolate manufacturers have told retailers they want further rises next year, with demands reportedly up to 20 percent, prompting pushback and tense negotiations.
- Cocoa futures have fallen since mid‑August, yet producers and retailers cite earlier supply deals, costly stock and higher labor, energy, packaging and logistics expenses for holding retail prices up.
- Consumer groups highlight steep markups on seasonal items, with the Hamburg consumer center estimating many Advent calendars cost roughly two to three times the value of their contents.
- Cost-cutting tactics continue to surface, including shrinkflation such as Milka’s bar moving from 100 to 90 grams at a higher shelf price, and recipe changes that replace pricier cocoa butter in some products.
- Public frustration is growing on social media with viral posts calling for boycotts, while advocacy reports say earlier world‑market price spikes brought little benefit to smallholder cocoa farmers.