Overview
- In October 2025, chocolate cost 21.8% more year on year in Germany, with bars up 30.7% and other chocolate items up 16.0%, according to Destatis.
- Prices for other sweets were mixed: pralines rose 22.1%, biscuits 1.7% and bonbons 0.4%, while chewing gum and gummies fell 2.8% versus a year earlier.
- Cost indicators show lagged pressures, with chocolate producer prices up 20.6% year on year in October, sugar producer prices down 40.2% in June after a 2024 surge, and cocoa bean import prices still elevated despite a 4% annual dip in September.
- Cocoa supply remains tight as Germany’s cocoa imports fell 16.8% to 449,400 tonnes in January–September 2025, with Côte d’Ivoire the leading source.
- A public dispute has intensified: consumer groups say retailers aren’t passing cost relief to shoppers, industry and grocers cite complex supply chains and competition, and market checks show seasonal items like chocolate Santas, Dominosteine and Lebkuchen markedly pricier, with NIQ noting fewer units sold and more bought on promotion.