Cocoa Crisis: Fewer Chocolate Bunnies This Easter

Every year, supermarkets fill their aisles with displays of chocolate bunnies in all shapes and sizes in the lead-up to Easter. The holiday season is a key sales period for chocolate manufacturers – but this year, the offering might be smaller than usual. Several companies have significantly reduced or even halted production.

The reason: cocoa prices doubled over the past year – a historic surge that’s putting the entire industry under pressure.

What’s Behind the Rising Prices?

Cocoa is becoming increasingly scarce – and expensive. The main reason is severe crop failures in West Africa, where around 60% of the world’s cocoa is grown. In Ghana and Ivory Coast, extreme weather, fungal infestations, and illegal trading have drastically reduced yields. As a result, cocoa prices have more than doubled – from about $2,500 to over $6,000 per ton.

How Is the Crisis Changing the Industry?

The effects are now being felt by consumers as well. Many chocolate manufacturers have cut back significantly on Easter production for 2025 – or canceled it altogether. This year, 12 million fewer chocolate bunnies were produced compared to last year – a drop of about 5%.
Other consequences include changes to recipes and reduced package sizes for the same price. Milka, for example, recently made headlines for shrinking its chocolate bars from 100 g to 80 g.

At the same time, cocoa farmers see little benefit from the price hikes. According to an Oxfam study, they receive only 9% of the retail price. In Ghana, the average farmer earns less than half of what they need to make a living – despite soaring global demand.

No End in Sight

Industry experts expect the situation to improve at the earliest with the next harvest – if at all. And while some manufacturers are already experimenting with new recipes, such as replacing cocoa butter with cottonseed oil, brands like Lindt and Ritter Sport remain committed to their premium quality.

What does this mean for Easter 2025? Anyone who doesn’t want to miss out on their chocolate bunny should act early – and be prepared to pay more.

Photo by Hitomi Bremmer via Unsplash