Overview
- Several chocolate makers have told German retailers they plan price increases for 2026, with some requests reportedly reaching up to 20%.
- Retail buyers describe the opening demands as inflated and say weak demand plus heavy promotions leave no room for further hikes.
- Industry sources argue not all cost surges have been passed through, citing cocoa prices still far above 2022 levels alongside higher packaging, wage, and energy costs.
- Procurement horizons have been shortened to roughly six months, increasing pricing uncertainty during talks, and insiders note that firms that over‑hedged for 2025 may skip 2026 hikes.
- Consumer pushback is growing as demand slips, with a lawsuit filed against Mondelez over Milka bar downsizing and separate reports linking Ikea’s scrapped advent calendar to price disputes with Hachez.