2024-03-01 16:01:00
the essential Cocoa prices have exploded on world markets, the price of a tonne of cocoa in New York is at its highest since 1977, unprecedented. This historic outbreak is explained by poor harvests in the main African producing countries. Are the artisan chocolatiers in Cahors impacted a few weeks before Easter?
Bad times for cocoa producers in Ghana and Ivory Coast who produce 60% of the world’s brown gold. Heavy rains, diseases, then drought, the harvests were poor which caused a surge cocoa prices on world markets. And the situation is unlikely to improve according to experts. A historic tension on the markets which inevitably impacts chocolate makers. So will Easter chocolate taste bitter? Will the tablet be more expensive?
Inflation and energy costs still high
In Cahors, at Eclat du Noir, the two artisan chocolatiers have seen cocoa prices increase by 25% over the past two years, and it was not yet a story of a market surge but of inflation. Between increases in raw materials, energy and transport costs, their suppliers have passed them on to cocoa. “The increases in the price of cocoa will arrive later, there is a gap between the production of beans, transport, and the production of chocolate. But we do not know when we will be impacted for the moment. We hope not not be too concerned because we work with chocolates from Central and South America while it is mainly the Ivory Coast which is affected” explains Cyril Nègre.
Marion Monroy and Cyril Nègre, artisan chocolatiers at Eclat du noir DDM – Sarah Nabli
In their laboratory in the city center of Cahors, the artisans have already been on deck for several weeks to prepare the 1,200 chocolate subjects for Easter. From lollipops to the traditional twenty-centimeter egg, they don’t have time to think about the surge in cocoa prices! Last September, they already had to increase their chocolates by between 15 and 20%. “But we have not passed on all the increases in costs that we have suffered: + 40% on packaging, sugar, butter. We have denied our margin. But if it continues to increase, we will be obliged to pass it on, we have no choice. We stay within our range, our priorities are taste and quality” underlines Marion Monroy, artisan chocolatier.
L’Eclat du noir plans 1,200 pieces for DDM Easter – Sarah Nabli
New chocolate consumers around the world
Same speech at Les Délices du Valentré, Cédric Fauvel does not take his head out of his chocolate preparations for Easter and he certainly does not want to take a look at the cocoa prices. “I don’t want to scare myself! I’m finally coming out of the energy crisis because I was able to get back to normal with a new contract. I still have peace of mind for a few months because I pre-order cocoa once a year in September and it’s stuck prices for a year. But yes, I will certainly experience an increase between 13 and 20% depending on the origins” expects the chocolatier.
Valérie Maravelle has been running the Au Manon confectionery for almost 20 years DDM – Sarah Nabli
At home and at the Au Manon confectionery, chocolates increased by around 10% at the start of the school year in September 2023. The shopkeeper, Valérie Maravelle, has been immersed in the world of chocolate for 38 years in Cahors. She gets her supplies from an artisan chocolatier. “This is the biggest increase I have experienced since I have been working, and we fear, in fact, another rise in prices. The problem, in my opinion, is the traders, they tell us what they want. For several years, we have also been talking about demand which is stronger than production, so prices are exploding. Emerging countries, particularly in Asia, are the new consumers,” she notes. After the Christmas holidays, the weeks before Easter represent the peak of activity for chocolatiers, and in general, chocolate still melts with pleasure the always numerous customers.
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