Why are Chocolate Prices Increasing?
Rising cocoa costs are reshaping the chocolate industry, but not always in ways that protect farmers. Discover the real forces driving price hikes, and why fairness matters more than ever.
Chocolate lovers across the UK are feeling the pinch of rising prices, but behind it all is a much bigger story about the farmers who grow the cocoa that makes our favourite treats possible
While the cost of your favourite chocolate bar might be going up, this extra money isn't necessarily ending up in the hands of the farmers and workers whose livlihoods depend on it's production. Many cocoa‑growing communities continue to face low wages, unstable demand, and rising production costs, widening the gap between what chocolate is worth and what farmers actually earn.
Why UK chocolate costs keep climbing
Chocolate is getting more expensive because the cocoa supply chain is under major strain - primarily as a result of the increasingly prominent consequences of the climate crisis.
The climate crisis is affecting how costly it is to make the products we love - in the case of chocolate, because cocoa trees are highly sensitive to shifts in temperature and rainfall, and unpredictable weather, droughts, and new plant diseases which reduce yields across major growing regions. When less cocoa is produced, the cost of raw beans rises, which ultimately increases the price of chocolate.
These changes in the cocoa supply chain are also having a huge impact on the people that farm the crop. Despite already earning far below a living income, farmers are now facing increasingly rising costs of living and production. Higher prices for essentials like food, fuel, and fertiliser make it even harder to maintain their farms.
We chatted to Sustainable Sourcing Lead at the Fairtrade Foundation, Jason Archie-Acheampong, to get the full picture on the changing conditions for cocoa - check out the video below ⬇️
How is the Fairtrade Foundation involved in chocolate prices?
This is how Fairtrade plays a vital role: the Fairtrade Minimum Price and Premium help protect farmers from volatile markets and support long‑term investment in their communities.
Choosing Fairtrade chocolate ensures farmers are paid more fairly and can build resilience in the face of these challenges. Fairtrade standards prioritise human rights, environmental protection, and economic stability - which all put money back in the hands of farmers and workers and can help put food back on the table for their families.
Ultimately, a rise in the cost of price of chocolate also reflects the true cost of producing cocoa sustainably and ethically. When shoppers choose Fairtrade cocoa, they’re supporting a future where cocoa farming is viable, resilient, and fair for the people who grow it.
What can be done about the rising prices of chocolate?
Rising chocolate prices may feel inevitable, but there are meaningful ways to tackle the root causes, starting with transforming how the cocoa industry works. One of the biggest steps is ensuring farmers receive stable, fairer incomes that allow them to plan for the future - particularly in preparation for increasing consequences of the climate crisis.
Fairtrade’s system of a Minimum Price and Premium provides a financial safety net when market prices fall, helping cocoa‑growing communities invest in better tools, stronger farms, and climate‑resilient practices. These long‑term changes are essential as climate impacts, ageing trees, and rising production costs continue to squeeze farmers.
Businesses also have a crucial role to play. By committing to long‑term contracts, transparent supply chains, and paying Living Income Reference Prices, companies can help reduce the volatility that drives sudden spikes in chocolate prices. Governments, too, can support stronger regulations around supply‑chain transparency, deforestation monitoring, and responsible sourcing, ensuring that farmers are not bearing the brunt of global market pressures alone.
But consumers have power as well. Choosing Fairtrade chocolate sends a clear message that fairness matters and helps build a market where farmers are valued partners. When more brands and shoppers back Fairtrade, it strengthens efforts to stabilise incomes, improve sustainability, and create a chocolate industry that works for everyone.
Rising prices don’t have to mean rising injustice; with the right actions, they can be a catalyst for long‑overdue change.
Hear directly from a Fairtrade Cocoa Farmer
Assata Doumbia Koné is a leader of the cocoa sector in Côte D'Ivoire. Working in a sector overwhelmingly dominated by men, Assata shares her journey and discusses how cocoa farming is changing due to the effects of the climate crisis.
Read Assata's story
The Impact of Co-operatives on Cocoa Farmers
From our new cocoa report, discover how co-operatives are driving change for cocoa farmers in West Africa.
Read the report
Interested in finding out more?
Our Cocoa page has everything you need to know about cocoa - including where you can pick up some Fairtrade chocolate yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why are chocolate prices rising in the UK right now?
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How is the cocoa shortage in West Africa affecting UK chocolate prices?
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Will chocolate get even more expensive in the UK this year?
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How much have chocolate prices gone up for UK shoppers?
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Is climate change making chocolate more expensive in the UK?
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Is buying Fairtrade chocolate in the UK contributing to higher prices?