The affair ends well for chocolate lovers. After weeks of conflict between the Lindt brand and the major retailer, an agreement has finally been reached. Michel-Édouard Leclerc announced the return of Lindt Swiss chocolates to the shelves of his supermarkets, following a pricing conflict which had threatened the end-of-year holidays. The festive products are not yet guaranteed, but the agreement seems in sight, confirms the boss of the brand to BFMTV.
Cocoa in the viewfinder
The dispute between E.Leclerc and Lindt broke out at the end of 2025, during annual negotiations on Christmas collections. The Price of cocoa has soared, reaching record peaks of more than $12,000 per tonne in December 2024, reports the International Cocoa Organization. Lindt, faced with these exorbitant costs, demanded significant price increases, up to 55% on certain chocolates, which the brand categorically refused. The increase was all the more controversial as it was an exception on the market: the competition, although subject to the same increases in raw materials, was content to cushion the shock. Result: mid-November, Lindt confirmed the absence of its ranges from Leclerc.
The 1is December 2025, Michel-Édouard Leclerc added fuel to the fire, announcing that an agreement would be found, avoiding a definitive breakup before the holidays while prices were still subject to debate between the two major retail players. Concretely, the brand’s chocolates will be accessible, but the availability of the festive ranges remains uncertain for the moment.
“There will be Lindt at Leclerc, but there will not necessarily be gift packages. (…) We think that when they have the size they have, a large multinational like Lindt, they have the capacity, even if cocoa increases, to smooth things out” – Michel-Edouard Leclerc
For consumers, this is good news: chocolates should return to shelves before Christmas 2025, at least in part. For their part, prices should remain approximately the same, with no major increase expected. With cocoa prices still unstable, 2026 could bring other twists and turns in the chocolate market. For the moment, assures the boss of Leclerc, the ball is in Lindt’s court. So don’t panic, a solution should be found between the two behemoths in the sector. The end-of-year celebrations will get their dose of chocolate again, but at what cost?
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