Food products Camille Bloch gradually increases prices by a good ten percent

The chocolate manufacturer Camille Bloch has announced a price increase in two steps by a total of a good ten percent. The reason for this is the increased price of cocoa, as company boss Daniel Bloch said in an interview.

The price fluctuations have recently been so extreme that the chocolate manufacturer cannot avoid passing on some of the additional costs to its customers, said CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors Bloch in an interview with the SonntagsZeitung newspaper.

Bloch also announced that he would be cutting back on the new "So Nuts" brand. He had "gone too far", said the company boss. Chocolate should not be allowed to change radically. As a small manufacturer, it is practically impossible to establish a new brand quickly enough to achieve the required sales figures, said Bloch. "You have to buy your place at a high price and you quickly disappear from the shelves again." Now the tried-and-tested Ragusa and Torino brands are to take center stage again.

Not an isolated case

As early as April, it became apparent that Camille Bloche - like other manufacturers - would have to deal with a price increase. However, the company, which produces in Courtelary BE, proved to be on course in the spring. Sales returned to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels. Its market share in Switzerland remained stable at 4.8%, behind Migros, Coop, Frey and Halba. The number of 180 employees also remained stable.

Other Swiss chocolate manufacturers, such as Barry Callebaut and Lindt & Sprüngli, also increased their prices due to the rise in cocoa prices. As a result, they achieved higher sales in the current financial year. On average, cocoa bean prices were 130% higher than in the same period last year, Barry Callebaut announced in July.

SDA