Lindt Reverses Some Price Hikes After 0.9% Sales Drop on 11.8% Increase
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 21
Lindt Reverses Some Price Hikes After 0.9% Sales Drop on 11.8% Increase
1 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 21
Summary
Lindt cut back some price increases and stepped up marketing for the second half after first-half revenue slipped 0.9% and sales volumes fell 7.5%.
An 11.8% groupwide price rise hurt demand in price-sensitive markets including the UK, Germany and Switzerland, where weaker Easter trading dragged European sales down 2.1%.
Pre-tax profit fell 1.5%, while airport sales also weakened as conflicts in the Middle East reduced passenger traffic and tourism from Asia and the region.
North America, Australia, China and Japan improved, but Europe still generates more than half of Lindt's revenue, leaving the company focused on restoring volume growth in 2027.
The setback underscores wider pressure on chocolate makers as climate-driven cocoa shortages lift costs, with UK chocolate and sweet prices up 7.9% versus 2.8% overall inflation.