SUSTAINABILITY
Despite this rich heritage, all three industry voices agree: chocolate is going through one of its toughest periods yet.
Why chocolate is getting more expensive
Global chocolate prices have surged dramatically over the past two years. The causes go far deeper than simple supply and demand.
Beyers Brand Manager Anneke Smit outlines the pressures driving the spike.“ Poor weather, crop diseases, ageing cocoa trees, supply chain disruptions, higher energy and packaging costs, and speculative market behaviour are sending prices to record highs.”
Thoenen echoes this.“ West Africa, where most of the world’ s cocoa is grown, is the epicentre of the crisis. Extreme weather, disease and decades of underinvestment have left farmers struggling. Prices may have eased slightly in recent months, but the structural problems remain.”
Gird explains the situation bluntly:“ The rising cost of chocolate comes down to a mix of environmental, ethical, and economic factors … At the same time, many cacao farmers still earn below a living wage, prompting calls for fairer, more sustainable sourcing which rightly raises the price of ethically traded beans.”
He adds that commodity traders have also taken advantage of the price volatility, worsening the situation.
Sustainability pressures and the true cost of cocoa
Experts stress that sustainability isn’ t just a buzzword – it’ s a significant cost driver.
Smit notes,“ The cost of chocolate
Prices may have eased slightly in recent months, but the structural problems remain.
is rising, largely due to sustainability challenges in cocoa farming across Côte d’ Ivoire and Ghana. Most cocoa farmers earn very low incomes and work with ageing trees and declining yields … Climate change, with erratic rainfall and crop diseases, further reduces output.”
She adds that sustainability regulations and ethical certifications, while essential, also add to costs but are essential for a fair and sustainable cocao industry.
Thoenen agrees, describing how decades of low cocoa prices have stunted farm investment.“ Many trees are old and less productive … Some farmers have also abandoned cocao farming for more lucrative opportunities, such as illegal gold mining in Ghana.”
He points out that poor soil management, deforestation and
2026 / TRADE & TASTE 99