Easter chocolate crisis: Soaring cocoa costs hit sweet treats
This year, the prices of Easter sweets have soared, particularly those of chocolate bunnies, reports the German service, Deutsche Welle. It notes that this price hike is a result of persistently high cocoa prices since the start of 2024.
According to Deutsche Welle, this year's prices for Easter bunnies are "higher than ever before." A 100-gram golden bunny from a well-known brand costs over 4 euros (£3.43). The sharp increase is attributed to high cocoa prices, which quadrupled in the first quarter of 2024 and remain elevated.
Data from the Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) indicates that German sweet producers manufactured 240 million chocolate bunnies this year, which is 5% fewer than last year. Half of these are destined for the German market, while the remainder will be exported to neighbouring countries, as well as to the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The prices of chocolate bunnies are breaking records; looking for alternatives
The cost of Easter bunnies is significantly higher compared to chocolate products with the same cocoa content. DW reports that producers attribute this to increased expenses related to product design, complex logistics, and storage. A BDSI spokesperson remarked that the production costs for Easter chocolate products are not comparable to those for a chocolate bar.
Consumer organisations recommend purchasing Easter chocolate instead of bunnies as a more economical choice.
When converted to 100 grams, bunnies are usually twice as expensive as a chocolate bar, explained food expert Frank Waskow.
He also stressed the importance of checking the weight of the chocolate bar, noting that sometimes it weighs 90 grams instead of 100 grams for the same price.
Experts suggest that chocolate prices are unlikely to fall soon. Frank Waskow points to climate changes impacting cocoa-growing regions as a contributing factor. "About 80% of the cocoa consumed in Germany comes from the Ivory Coast and Ghana. Last year, harvests there were nearly halved, primarily due to extreme weather conditions," DW reported.
