Easter chocolate sales fall after price hike

Lindt has partially reversed its decision to raise prices after Easter chocolate sales fell.

The Swiss chocolate maker said a “significant group-wide” price increase of 11.8% was part of the reason for the drop in revenue in the first half of this year, particularly in the UK, Germany and Switzerland.

In addition, weak tourism demand and the decline of tourism in Asia and the Middle East are due to “geopolitical instability”. In response, he said, he has increased prices in half of the year and increased sales in some regions.

Around Easter, Lint is known for decorating chocolate bunnies wrapped in gold-colored foil with red ribbons and bells around their necks.

Overall company sales fell 0.9 percent, with European sales down 2.1 percent. “Performance is more price-oriented and influenced by mature markets such as Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom,” he added.

In terms of volume, that is, the amount of chocolate sold rather than money earned, total sales fell 7.5%. Pre-tax profit fell 1.5 percent.

Meanwhile, sales of Lindt chocolates at airports have fallen due to “conflicts in the Middle East and therefore reduced passenger traffic”.

Lint said sales were up in North America, Australia, China and Japan, although these countries account for much smaller sales than Europe, where sales account for more than half of revenue.

Adalbert Lechner, CEO of Lint, said: “The measures we have initiated will focus on the recovery of volume in the second half of 2026 and lay the foundation for the recovery of volume growth in 2027.”

Lindt is not the only chocolate company that is setting prices.

Climate change has led to heavy rains and droughts, which have reduced cocoa farmers’ crops, experts say.

This raises the costs of producing chocolate, and companies have chosen different ways to respond, some of which are cutting back. Chocolate content or quantities instead of increasing the price.

According to the new official information Annual Chocolate Volume and Sweets Price Increase 7.9%, External – Very high UK headline inflation at 2.8%, External.