Lindt & Sprüngli has reduced its sales-growth expectations for 2026 as weaker consumer demand and greater price sensitivity weigh on the chocolate market.
The Swiss chocolate maker has lowered its forecast for organic sales growth from between 4% and 6% to between 0% and 2%.
According to ConfectioneryNews, weaker consumer sentiment has affected orders in several European markets, while rising price sensitivity has also influenced seasonal chocolate demand. Hot weather across Europe was another factor affecting chocolate sales.
The development highlights the challenge facing premium chocolate brands. While consumers continue to show interest in premium products, higher prices can make shoppers more selective about when and what they buy.
For chocolate companies, this means that maintaining growth may require a careful balance between premium positioning, pricing and products that consumers consider worth paying for.
Lindt has nevertheless maintained its profit targets and reaffirmed its longer-term growth strategy.
The company’s revised outlook also provides another indication of how changing consumer spending patterns are affecting the wider confectionery sector.
Macao Cacao:
For Macao Cacao, developments such as Lindt’s revised outlook offer a useful window into how pricing and consumer behaviour are reshaping the global chocolate market.
