Inflation in Belgian supermarkets is picking up a little, reaching 2.76% in September 2024. For comparison, it was 2.50% in August. One of the most impacted products is chocolate.
Since January 2022, our basket has increased by 27% on average. Current price inflation must therefore be put into perspective. Thus, the price of dairy products and groceries remains 29% higher than at the time.
The price of chocolate increased 28% between September 2023 and September 2024, and 39% since January 2022. The price of a tonne of cocoa is around €7,000. It was €2,000 per tonne in 2021 and climbed to more than €12,000 last May. It has therefore since come down to €7,000. The price of cocoa has increased by almost 40% over the past 2 and a half years, and 28% in 1 year.
Result: prices are constantly increasing in supermarkets but especially among artisan chocolatiers. This increase is felt in stores with chocolates expected to be between 5 and 10% more expensive in view of the end of year celebrations; namely Halloween, Saint Nicholas, and obviously Christmas.
Among artisan chocolatiers, we confirm this feeling. Jérôme Grimonpon, chocolatier in Brussels, best chocolatier in 2020, continues to produce pralines, truffles, and bars, despite the fact that the price of cocoa has increased 6 times this year. “It’s becoming more and more expensive to produce, more and more expensive to sell,” says the chocolatier. “Each year, we generally increase by 1 to 2% or even 3% when it comes to big years but it’s really very rare. There, we really had to have an impact of 10%, which is enormous…”
A nuisance for homes?
With perhaps therefore customers who will avoid chocolate at the end of the year even though this is the period when artisans make 25% of their annual budget. “Some people will make these decisions but in general, it remains a pleasure purchase”, estimates Jean-Philippe Darcis, pastry chef and chocolate maker in Verviers. “On a supermarket shelf, it’s 2 to 3 euros, it’s not an increase that will really hamper household budgets. They like their little square of chocolate in the evening…”
Confirmation with Odette, a great lover of the dish. “I love chocolate so much that I keep buying it”she admits. “But maybe a little less… Anyway, I ate too much chocolate.”
chocolate inflation economy
