Chocolate lovers across the United Kingdom are facing significant economic challenges as the prices of chocolate have surged dramatically since the beginning of the year. Reports from Cornwall Live indicate that some supermarkets are now charging as much as £6 for large bars of Cadbury's Dairy Milk, prompting warnings for consumers to "prepare to pay more."

The rise in chocolate prices has been attributed to a disappointing cocoa harvest in December 2022, which has led to a record high for cocoa prices that have reached approximately $12,900 per tonne. Giles Atwell, co-founder of the chocolatier Russell and Atwell, explained to Express.co.uk that cocoa prices previously ranged from $3,000 to $5,000 per tonne for decades. He stated, "The spike was driven by a -14% drop in global production, extreme weather in West Africa, and crop disease like cacao swollen shoot virus. For anyone working with chocolate, pricing right now is nothing short of a nightmare – even before you factor in global tariff uncertainty."

At present, a 360g Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar is priced around £5 in UK supermarkets, with Tesco Clubcard holders enjoying a reduced price of £4.25. Asda follows next with an offer of £4.98, while Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s are priced at £5 and £5.85, respectively. Waitrose sits at the top of the price range with a selling price of £6.

Mr Atwell observed that the market is expected to rise again by the end of 2025, projecting cocoa prices to reach $9,500 per tonne, albeit with increased production and some offset from Nigeria. However, he forewarned, "It's likely to get a little worse before starting to improve in 2026 – but for the rest of this year, prepare to pay more for chocolate bars."

In parallel, Claire Burnet, co-founder of the luxury chocolatier Chococo based in Dorset, echoed concerns regarding the potential persistence of high prices. Burnet highlighted that the Ivory Coast and Ghana supply more than half of the world’s cocoa, and the governmental price-setting mechanisms in these regions keep farmgate prices historically low. She stated, "This artificial suppression of the price that the 1.5 million cocoa farmers in these countries are paid has had a disastrous effect on the long-term viability of growing cocoa in West Africa."

Although there has been an increase in farmgate prices due to market fluctuations—currently around $3,620 per tonne in the Ivory Coast and $3,070 per tonne in Ghana—these still remain significantly lower than the market rate of $8,000 per tonne. Burnet remarked, "The average output of a cocoa farmer in Ghana is just one tonne per year as most are smallholder farmers with farms of less than five hectares."

Burnet stressed the dire situation should farmers fail to receive a living wage: "It's a downward spiral. Cocoa farmers are getting older as young farmers don't want to grow cocoa. They cannot afford to employ workers or invest in their farms, so they have ageing cocoa trees with an increased risk of disease and decreasing yields." The impact of climate change further complicates the situation, as shifting weather patterns hinder regular cultivation cycles.

In light of these challenges, Burnet argues for greater recognition of cocoa’s value, asserting that it requires "the respect that it is due." She questioned why other agricultural products like coffee, wine, and olive oil command higher prices and respect, while cocoa does not. Furthermore, she suggested a transformation in consumer perceptions, advocating for the understanding that cocoa farming cannot return to the artificially low prices seen prior to 2024. Burnet concludes, "We as consumers in the West need to stop thinking of it as a cheap food, and cocoa farmers in West Africa need to be paid a living wage to invest in their farms and make it an economically viable crop for them and their families."