Chocolate
Pre-2022 pack sizes are quietly returning across European confectionery. Private label premium is reshaping shelf space.
Country outlooks
All outlooks →- Q1 2026
Chocolate in Germany
Mondelez held Q1 2026 results on April 29, 2026 with 6.3% organic net revenue growth group-wide and developed markets at 0.8%. CEO Dirk Van de Put characterized European consumer confidence as "stable but fragile". The company reaffirmed FY 2026 guidance of flat to +2% topline growth rather than raising it, citing geopolitical volatility. Cocoa input costs partially offset Q1 top-line growth, but the mid-year crop is described as "quite positive". Lindt FY 2025 sales reached CHF 5.92 billion. Ritter Sport (Waldenbuch, family-owned since 1912) and August Storck (Berlin, the second-largest German confectionery producer in 2022) anchor the German private side. Aldi and Lidl private label rounds out the competitive set.
Recent signals
All news →- Company news
Glico says localisation fails when leaders stay out of the field
Glico Asia Pacific's new COO argues that walking the ground beats relying on data alone. He is pushing the snacker to adapt global brands like Pocky to local tastes rather than export fixed formulas.
ConfectioneryNews · 2d ago - Consumer trends
Food Companies Signal Consumer Fatigue as Iran Conflict Raises Stakes
Manufacturers warn that consumers entering 2026 already worn down by inflation may not recover from another squeeze on household finances, reshaping value perception permanently.
ConfectioneryNews · 5d ago - Portfolio
Mars shapes snacking through scale and portfolio breadth
The confectionery giant's strategy of premiumisation, better-for-you innovation, and acquisitions signals where rivals should focus capital and R&D.
FoodNavigator · 1w ago - Consumer trends
Viral TikTok trends trigger global food shortages
When social media hype explodes demand for niche ingredients like ube and pistachios, companies need supply-chain mapping and flexibility to avoid getting caught short.
FoodNavigator · 1w ago - Consumer trends
Retail's 'More is More' Problem
The trend of excessive indulgence thrives in foodservice but stumbles in retail, where formulation complexity, logistics and cost squeeze manufacturers.
ConfectioneryNews · 1w ago - Portfolio
Mars pilots cocoa-free chocolate with Planet A Foods
Mars extends Balisto with a trail mix using ChoViva, a fermented sunflower-seed ingredient, in a limited test at German retailer Rewe.
FoodNavigator · 1w ago - Portfolio
Nut Brands Launch Peanut-Flavored Products to Meet Demand
Major consumer goods companies are releasing new peanut-forward products as manufacturers bet on protein and convenience trends in snacking.
Food Business News · 1w ago - Earnings analysis
Mondelez Q1 2026: 6.3% organic, Europe "stable but fragile", cocoa pressure begins to ease
Mondelez held Q1 2026 results on April 29 with 6.3% organic group growth (developed markets at 0.8%). CEO Van de Put characterized European consumer confidence as stable but fragile. Cocoa cost partially offset top-line, but the mid-year crop is described as quite positive. FY 2026 guidance reaffirmed at flat to +2% topline.
ConfectioneryNews · 2w ago
Company analysis tagged chocolate
All companies →- Mondelez
Q1 2026: Europe stable but fragile, cocoa pressure begins to ease
Mondelez held Q1 2026 results on April 29 with 6.3% organic group growth and reaffirmed FY guidance at flat to +2% topline. The European consumer mood and the mid-year cocoa crop are the two reads that matter for the chocolate portfolio.
Opinion
All opinion →- playbook
Price rise vs pack shrink: which one to choose, and when
Same per-pack revenue lift, two structurally different consequences for sales, shopper trust, retailer relations, and reversibility. Here is how to think it through before signing the spring resets.
Get chocolate intelligence in your inbox
Every Tuesday morning. The week's signals, outlooks, and opinion pieces tagged chocolate.