The Not So Sweet Reason Valentine's Day Chocolate Is Pricey This Year
If you're planning to gift a box of chocolates to your loved one or yourself this Valentine's Day, be prepared to pay a higher price. Unfavorable weather conditions and a cocoa disease that has affected cocoa production in West African countries, where nearly 70% of cocoa is farmed, has created a conundrum for some of the world's leading chocolate companies. This Valentine's Day, shoppers can expect a 10-20% price increase for chocolate (per CNN).
According to a report from Lindt, 2024 was an arduous year for the company, experiencing record-high cocoa costs which subsequently has lead the Swiss brand to raise the prices of their products, a trend consumers can expect to continue into 2025. If you're a fan of Lindt, expect to pay over $20 for one of their premium Valentine's Day chocolate boxes.
Lindt is also the parent company to the renowned chocolate brands, Ghirardelli, Russell Stover, and Whitman's. It's safe to expect price hikes from these brands as well. Additionally, Mondelez International, the owner of Cadbury and Toblerone, will also see price hikes in 2025.
Valentine's day treat alternative and the future for cocoa
Alternatively, Hershey's Valentine's Day box of chocolates might be more budget-friendly. The company purchases its cocoa for confections almost a year in advance, which means the price of their Valentine's Day treats this year won't be affected. While Hershey's isn't a premium chocolate brand, and apparently Lindt revealed that its chocolate isn't actually 'expertly crafted' at all either, you can opt for a five to six-ounce box of Valentine's Day milk chocolate treats from Hershey's at a significantly cheaper price, ranging from $5 to $7.
However, if you're not a fan of Hershey's and are looking to purchase an affordable, premium chocolate treat this Valentine's Day, selecting an item only partially made with cocoa could help cut costs. If you need some tasty examples, check out the must have treat that Costco brought back for Valentine's Day or Costco's new bakery cookies that were made for chocolate lovers.
Cocoa powder is still relatively inexpensive, therefore baking a sweet treat yourself, or improvising with other cocoa options could be more economical and probably just as delicious as a premium box of chocolates.