Shelf prices of Lindt dark chocolate bars have risen by as much 20% in UK supermarkets this month, as a US lawsuit rages on over alleged heavy metal content.
Several Lindt 100g Excellence bars – 70% Dark, 85% Dark, 90% Dark, Dark Caramel & Sea Salt, Dark Sea Salt, Intense Dark Mint and Intense Orange Dark – rose in price by 20% from £2.50 to £3 in Morrisons this month, according to The Grocer’s analysis of Assosia data [19 October vs 19 November 2024].
Over the past year, the bars have risen 53.8% in price in Morrisons, from £1.95 [19 November 2024 vs 19 November 2023].
In Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda, Lindt Excellence 100g bars have risen by a lower rate of 22.4% – up from £2.45 to £3 – in the past year. Its pricier Dark Chocolate With Hazelnut Bar 150g is up 23.2% – from £3.45 to £4.25 – in the three supermarkets.
Morrisons and Sainsbury’s declined to comment, while Lindt, Tesco and Asda had not responded at the time of publication.
Lindt lawsuit
Lindt is currently contesting a class action lawsuit filed by US consumers over alleged heavy metals found in its dark chocolate bars.
Filed in early 2023, the lawsuit followed a 2022 Consumer Reports investigation in which 28 bars sold in the US were tested for heavy metals. Lindt’s Excellence 70% Dark bar was found by Consumer Reports to contain cadmium levels at 116% of California’s maximum allowable dose level. Its Excellence 85% Dark bar was found to contain lead levels at 166% of the maximum allowable dose level.
The lawsuit alleges Lindt “deceptively marketed their dark chocolate bars as ‘expertly crafted with the finest ingredients’ … when the bars contained significant amounts of lead”.
Lindt’s lawyers last week played down its marketing claims as “exaggerated advertising, blustering, and boasting upon which no reasonable buyer would rely” to try to end proceedings. The court dismissed Lindt’s motion.
Cocoa costs
It comes after the Swiss chocolatier achieved “robust” sales and profits growth in a “successful” first half of 2024, but warned of ongoing challenges caused by record-high cocoa prices.
Organic sales increased 7% to CHF 2.2bn (£1.9bn), supported by mid-single digit price hikes to offset the surge in cocoa prices. Despite the hikes, Lindt grew share in all its important markets and boosted volumes by 0.9% in the half.
“While energy prices and supply security have stabilised, and prices for other raw materials and packaging have remained constant, the cost of cocoa continues to be a challenge, reaching record levels,” Lindt said at the time.
However, Lindt certainly isn’t alone in its woes. The soaring cost of cocoa also influenced Cadbury to put up the price of Dairy Milk, as reported by The Grocer in June.
In the year to 14 November 2024, Cadbury Dairy Milk 90g-110g has risen in price by an average of 18.1% from £1.44 to £1.70 across the retailers, according to The Grocer’s KVI Tracker [Assosia].
Meanwhile, own label dark and milk chocolate 100g is up by an average of 20.5% year-on-year from 44p to 53p.
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