Candy Companies Are Quietly Cutting Down on Cocoa to Save Money. The first thing that really jumps out is how many people have noticed a definite change in the taste and quality of mass-produced candy. It’s not just a subtle shift; it’s a stark difference that’s been happening over the last couple of decades. The “fun size” candies, especially those sold in bulk for holidays like Halloween, are often cited as the prime example of this decline. They’re simply not as good as the regular-sized versions, and it’s something many of us, especially those with a long-standing love for these treats, have readily perceived.… Continue reading
Soaring cocoa prices, driven by climate-related crop failures in West Africa, have significantly increased the cost of chocolate. These increases, coupled with new tariffs imposed on imported goods, are further driving up prices for consumers. The limited domestic cocoa production in the US makes it impossible for manufacturers to avoid these tariffs, impacting businesses of all sizes. Consequently, the already elevated price of chocolate is expected to rise even higher, potentially squeezing smaller chocolate makers and altering consumer purchasing patterns. This unstable market environment threatens the viability of some chocolate businesses.
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Cocoa, the beloved ingredient that brings us the rich and decadent treat we all know and love as chocolate, has recently made headlines for surpassing $9,000 per ton, making it more expensive than copper. This surge in price is due to a supply crunch in the market, causing a ripple effect that has chocolate makers scrambling for beans as supermarkets adjust their prices to reflect the increased costs. As a self-proclaimed chocolate aficionado, the news of cocoa surpassing the value of copper certainly caught my attention.
The idea of cocoa, a luxury crop that is grown in limited regions, becoming more valuable than copper is not entirely surprising when considering the scarcity and demand for this delectable ingredient.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker