The increase in the price of cocoa on the world market has direct repercussions on artisans in Villefranche, in Aveyron. The latter must adapt to this inflation.
Gold bars that are panicking the markets. In 2024, the price of cocoa has increased significantly, directly impacting local artisans in Villefranchois. This is due to poor harvests in West Africa, due to unfavorable weather conditions, with heavy rains in 2023, followed by drought. In this region, Ivory Coast and Ghana represent more than half of world production. The supply of cocoa therefore fell, causing this price spike.
“We’ve been feeling this increase for a year”argues Sandrine Boutonnet, co-manager of the Amandier chocolate company, in the bastide. “The price of chocolate has increased by at least 30%. We work with a supplier who is in contact with the plantations in different countries. He delivers us the chocolate blocks and beans that we work behind.”
“We don’t negotiate quality”
In total, almost four tonnes of raw material each year for the family business. Despite the rise in cocoa, there is no question of changing habits.
“We don’t negotiate with the quality of the chocolate, that’s the watchword for us”supports Sandrine Boutonnet. “We just have to adapt. If we add the increase in electricity and other raw materials, cream, butter, eggs, it becomes very heavy on fixed costs. We try as much as possible to limit price increases, but we have to do it”.
“We continue in the dark”
Same story a few streets further, Chez Henry Passion Chocolat. “We felt a strong loss of margin with the price of cocoa which almost doubled,” comments Christine. “We were forced to pass on this inflation. We continue to move forward in the dark for the moment.”
No drop in raw materials is currently envisaged on world prices. Artisans can still rejoice at the arrival of the end-of-year holidays, which should increase customer demand for this melting gold.
