Business · Energy & Commodities · 11 hrs ago
French chocolatiers adapt as energy and packaging costs rise
As Halloween approaches, French artisan chocolatiers face rising energy and packaging costs even though cocoa prices have started to fall.
Their handmade creations have become about 20% more expensive in two years.
One chocolatier makes moulds from everyday objects, saving on specialist mould-making costs while keeping the chocolate quality high.
Another buys ingredients in bulk and makes praline in-house to reduce packaging costs.
He has also bought equipment that uses less energy.
These measures help limit price rises, though a chocolate bar at one shop has gone from €3.50 to €4 in three years, and the customers interviewed still buy there.
French chocolatiers are changing how they make and package products to limit the impact of rising energy and packaging costs.
Artisan chocolate creations have become about 20% more expensive in two years.
One chocolatier makes moulds from ordinary objects, while another makes praline in-house and reuses containers.
A chocolatier says the price of the high-quality chocolate he buys has nearly tripled in ten years.
Some customers say they notice higher prices, while others say quality keeps them coming back.
- Who
- French artisan chocolatiers, including Serdar Sayim and Gilles Cresno, are adapting their businesses.
- What
- They are changing production methods to manage higher energy and packaging costs.
- When
- The report was published on 29 October 2026, ahead of Halloween.
- Where
- At chocolate shops and workshops in France. The article does not name their locations.
- Why
- Rising energy and packaging costs are putting pressure on chocolatiers. The article also reports that the price of quality chocolate has risen.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Serdar Sayim says he paid about eight euros per kilo for the quality chocolate he buys.
A shop's dark chocolate bar cost 3.50 euros; it now costs four euros.
Artisan chocolate creations have become about 20% more expensive.
franceinfo published its report ahead of Halloween.
- Price rise
- Artisan creations cost about 20% more than two years earlier
- Chocolate cost
- 24–25 euros per kilo, compared with about 8 euros ten years earlier
- Mould cost
- A plastic sheet costs up to 50 cents; a specialist-made mould matrix would cost 1,000 euros
- Praline savings
- Reusing containers saves five to ten euros per kilo
- Dark chocolate bar
- Rose from 3.50 euros to four euros in three years
What people are saying
The quality chocolate I buy, ten years ago I paid about eight euros per kilo. Today, it has practically tripled; it is between 24 and 25 euros per kilo.
Making it ourselves allows us to bypass some of the packaging.
I do look at the prices, because even the smallest box of chocolates reaches new heights.
The chocolates are very good and at a moderate price. As someone who loves chocolate in large quantities, I have made this place my home.