This year, consumers in the Czech Republic should prepare for higher prices for Christmas sweets. Bakeries and confectioners across the country are facing rising costs, primarily due to the increase in the prices of key ingredients such as chocolate, nuts, and butter. The price rise for chocolate is mainly attributed to a poor cocoa harvest in West Africa, while the increased cost of nuts has been influenced by spring frosts in the Czech Republic.
Bakers and confectioners in the country are already taking their first orders for traditional Christmas treats, but the main production does not begin until the end of November. Nevertheless, it is clear that production costs this year will be significantly higher than last year.
Bohumil Hlavatý, Managing Director of the Czech Association of Bakers and Confectioners, emphasized to the news channel ČT24 that the prices of cocoa and chocolate, in particular, pose a major risk. “The price of chocolate is already higher than in previous years, and we expect further increases, although importers assure us that the price rise should remain moderate until the end of the year,” Hlavatý stated.
Butter prices are also a concern. The development of butter prices is being closely monitored, as further increases could potentially have a greater impact on the final prices of products than the rising chocolate prices.
Since the beginning of the year, the global price of cocoa has risen by 83%, primarily due to unfavorable weather conditions in West Africa. The limited availability of walnuts due to spring frosts is also driving up the cost of this important ingredient.
Consumers must therefore prepare themselves for more expensive Christmas treats, as bakeries and confectioners can hardly compensate for the increased raw material prices.
