Overview
- Price checks show seasonal staples like Schoko-Nikoläuse, Dominosteine and Lebkuchen are up commonly to around 25%, with some items rising by as much as two-thirds and 300-gram Lebkuchenherzen up to 60%, often now above €3 per pack.
- Cheaper options at discounters such as Aldi and Lidl remain lower than many brands, yet they also reflect noticeable increases compared with last year.
- Cocoa futures have retreated to their lowest level in nearly two years, but retail prices have not followed, as manufacturers and retailers work through earlier high-cost purchases.
- Industry and consumer advocates underscore that long-term supply contracts and pricey stockpiles delay pass-through, and the confectionery association notes retailers set the final shelf price.
- NIQ reports about a 10% year-on-year drop in volumes through October, with revenues sustained by heavy promotions and a rise in deal-driven buying to 66% from 46% in 2024, while experts see broad relief only after contracts and inventories unwind, likely in 2026.