The demand for cocoa and chocolate only increases, even if the price goes up.
The average Finn eats a little over six kilos of chocolate a year, or about 30 chocolate bars. Adobe Stock / AOP
A few years ago, chocolate candy packages were commonly sold with a three-for-ten offer.
Now the size of the boxes of chocolate candy packages has decreased and the prices have increased. Three smaller boxes of chocolate already cost more than 20 euros.
The kilo price of chocolate bars has thus even tripled. In the offers, you can still get chocolate candies cheaper than this.
One of the reasons for the wild increase in the price of candies is the rise in the price of cocoa. Food Industry Association in a review published in 2024, it was reported that the price of cocoa was at a record high.
Cocoa cultivation conditions have changed due to climate change. Heavy rains and severe drought have varied so that harvests have decreased.
WWF Finland website it is said that chocolate is a huge business and the demand for cocoa products is growing worldwide.
There are unpleasant features in the cocoa business.
Responsible chocolate
According to WWF Finland, approximately 1.5 million children work in cocoa production in Ghana and Ivory Coast, where a large part of the world’s cocoa is grown.
The cocoa business causes forest and nature loss. In recent years, more than 153,000 football fields’ worth of forest has been cut down to make way for cocoa trees.
Many endangered species are in even greater danger when their home forests are destroyed. Such species at risk due to cocoa production include forest elephants, many monkey species and the jaguar.
Published by Oxford University Spring 2025 research according to which it is also possible to produce cocoa responsibly and in accordance with sustainable development.
According to WWF Finland, the most common certificates for chocolate products are Rainforest Alliance, Reilu Kauppa and Luomu.
