This weekend we celebrate Easter! And whoever says Easter, very often says chocolate. But this year, the hunting may be less good, due to a surge in the price of cocoa beans. For the first time in its history, it exceeded $10,000 per ton. And this increase is felt in Orléans chocolate factories. Despite everything, customers do not seem decided to give up their little sweet treat.
Because Easter is a celebration that only happens once a year. Like Christmas, on this day, the head is not really in savings. At the Victorine chocolate factory on rue Jeanne d’Arc, where customers are present, Céline does not intend to deprive herself. “It’s a family gathering. We have a good meal and we enjoy it. So we please everyone: adults, children. Everyone has the right to their chocolate, it’s tradition. We will watch your wallet after Easter!” she smiled.
“People are switching to smaller models”
A little further on, Natasha comes out of the Royal Chocolate Factory having spent around fifty euros on different sweets. “I don’t mind paying a price for quality. We are limited in terms of quantity but it allows us to appreciate the chocolate we eat even more.” Buy quality chocolates, but in smaller quantities, This is the trend this year, says Cyndie Vallée, the store manager. “Instead of taking very large subjects, people fall back on smaller models. Here for example, they favor the 150 gram egg at 20.50 euros rather than the 240 gram egg at 30 euros.”
The temptation of supermarkets
And faced with rising prices, Nicole, a retiree from Orléans, preferred to opt for compromises. “For the egg hunt in the garden, yes, I go to a supermarket because there are still a certain number to be had. But for the chocolates that will be on my table, I preferred to trust a chocolate factory.” Chocolates purchased in supermarkets or in stores. This weekend, the instructions will be the same for everyone. Devour them!
