Price hikes nibble at demand for Lindt chocolate
Premium Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Sprungli hiked its 2025 sales target as cocoa price hikes passed on to customers outweighed a drop in volumes.
The company, known for its Lindor pralines and gold chocolate Easter bunnies, hiked its prices by 15.8% to offset record-high cocoa costs.
While sales volumes declined by 4.6%, it still saw revenues climb by 9% to 2.4 billion Swiss francs ($3.0 billion) as consumers continued to buy chocolate despite the price hikes.
Excluding the effect of changing currency values, sales growth was 11.2%.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
12 hours ago
- IOL News
Nestle struggles amid weak China market
File photo of Nestle CEO Laurent Freixe. Image: AFP Nestle said on Tuesday its net profit fell in the first half of the year as the Swiss food giant behind Nespresso coffee capsules and KitKat chocolate bars struggles to turn around its fortunes amid sluggish consumer spending in China. The company whose brands also include Purina dog food, Maggi bouillon cubes, Gerber baby food and Nesquik chocolate-flavoured drinks, reported a 10.3% drop in first half profits to 5.1 billion Swiss francs (R113 billion). Sales, however, only dipped by 1.8 percent to 44.2 billion francs, which was due in large part to passing on higher cocoa and coffee prices to consumers, although faced even greater headwinds from the strong Swiss currency. "We are also taking decisive measures to strengthen our business in Greater China," said chief executive Laurent Freixe. The company said China, which has suffered sluggish domestic consumption amid a deflationary price environment, had a 0.7 percentage point impact on organic growth in the second quarter. Overall, the company reported 2.9% quarterly organic growth, which strips out currency effects and other elements to measure performance. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Nestle warned China would continue to weigh on growth as it invested to turn around its performance. Nestle's shares fell 3.5% in a Swiss market that was flat overall, as the sales figures missed the analyst consensus calculated by Swiss financial news agency AWP. Net profit came in slightly higher than expected. Nestle made a surprise switch of its chief executive last year amid soft spending by consumers for food and household goods. Nestle's share price slumped by nearly a quarter last year, raising concerns in Switzerland, where pension funds invest heavily in the company. The company launched a number of measures to boost its product offering and cut costs. That was reflected in better organic growth in the second quarter compared to the same period last year, and Nestle said that it was expected to continue for the rest of the year. Nestle said it was maintaining its 2025 guidance "despite factoring in increased headwinds". It aims for an underlying trading operating profit margin of at least 16% this year, compared to 17.2% in 2024. It came in at 16.5% in the first half of the year. AFP
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Price hikes nibble at demand for Lindt chocolate
The company, known for its Lindor pralines and gold chocolate Easter bunnies, hiked its prices by 15.8% to offset record-high cocoa costs. Premium Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Sprungli hiked its 2025 sales target as cocoa price hikes passed on to customers outweighed a drop in volumes. The company, known for its Lindor pralines and gold chocolate Easter bunnies, hiked its prices by 15.8% to offset record-high cocoa costs. While sales volumes declined by 4.6%, it still saw revenues climb by 9% to 2.4 billion Swiss francs ($3.0 billion) as consumers continued to buy chocolate despite the price hikes. Excluding the effect of changing currency values, sales growth was 11.2%.
The South African
11-07-2025
- The South African
How High-End Watch Brands are merging Tradition with Technology
The world of luxury watchmaking has long been a bastion of tradition – a celebration of heritage and painstaking craftsmanship passed down through generations. Yet, in an era defined by rapid technological advancement and shifting consumer expectations, even the most storied watchmakers have recognised the need to evolve. Today, high-end watch brands are embracing innovative technologies to add to their timepieces while preserving the timeless elegance and mechanical mastery that define haute horlogerie . One of the most striking ways this merger appears is in the development of hybrid luxury watches in South Africa. Brands like Frederique Constant and TAG Heuer have pioneered smartwatches that retain the classic look and feel of an analog timepiece but integrate modern connectivity. These watches discreetly house sensors that monitor fitness metrics, notifications, and sleep patterns – all while showcasing Swiss craftsmanship on the wrist. This blend allows traditional watch enthusiasts to step into the digital age without sacrificing style. Materials science is another frontier where tradition meets technology with luxury watches South Africa. High-end brands are pushing beyond precious metals and classic stainless steel to explore advanced materials like ceramic, carbon composites, and silicon. Take Omega's use of ceramic bezels and scratch-resistant sapphire crystals, which offer durability without compromising on luxury aesthetics. Similarly, Rolex's innovation with proprietary materials like Cerachrom and Oystersteel reflects a commitment to combining enduring beauty with cutting-edge resilience. Movement innovation is equally vital to this balance. While mechanical movements remain the heart and soul of luxury watchmaking, brands are integrating precision-enhancing technologies. Silicon escapements, for instance, have become increasingly popular due to their anti-magnetic properties and low friction, extending the life and accuracy of the movement. Patek Philippe and Breguet have embraced these advances, meaning their watches are not only exquisite heirlooms but also marvels of modern engineering. Technology is also transforming the way luxury watches are designed and manufactured. Computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing have streamlined prototyping and allowed for unprecedented intricacy in watch components. This means master watchmakers can focus on perfecting finishes, hand-engraving, and assembly – the human touches that make each piece unique. Beyond the watches themselves, technology is shaping the ownership experience. Blockchain-based digital certificates of authenticity and smart warranty services are becoming common, protecting collectors from counterfeits and simplifying service records. Elsewhere, virtual showrooms and augmented reality apps are redefining how customers discover and customise luxury timepieces, bringing the boutique experience directly to their homes. While some purists may worry that technology dilutes the romance of traditional watchmaking, leading brands see it differently: as a means to safeguard their heritage for future generations. By thoughtfully integrating technology, they see that their masterpieces remain relevant in a world that demands both timelessness and innovation. In the end, the luxury watch industry's embrace of technology is not about replacing tradition, but about complementing it. The result is a new era of timepieces that honour the past, serve the present, and anticipate the future; proving that, for high-end watchmakers, time truly never stands still.
