Chocolate Lovers React to 45% Increase in Cocoa Prices, Mzansi Shares Solution

• Rising cocoa costs will likely lead to a price hike for South African chocolate lovers
• Ghana is the world’s second-biggest cocoa grower in the world; therefore, its production has a direct influence on the price of chocolate
• South Africans think it's time to invest in a new age of crop farming - cacao trees

We can expect a rise in chocolate prices. To prevent a sudden surge in demand, we expect a gradual increase. South Africans have already been expressing concerns about rising food prices.

Chocolate is the largest byproduct of cocoa.

Previous chocolate price increases

In February 2024, it was reported that the average price for a slab of chocolate (80g) was R22.48. This was a 17% increase from the previous year. Because of these increases, consumers have had to adapt their grocery spending.

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There is also the factor of a global supply shortage of cocoa to take into account. If there is an investment in the sector, it will allow the farmers to reinvest in their farms and potentially yield more cocoa.

Other African producers of cocoa

Fellow African producers, the Ivory Coast, have also seen a 28% decrease year-on-year.

Chocoholics respond online to price increase

Shawn Govinder has a plan:

"We need to grow our own cocoa."

Joe Mohale asks what plant produces cocoa:

"What kind of tree produces cocoa? I want to start growing it on my farm."

Warren Meintjes’s comical response:

"It's fine, we will drink beer in the morning now."

Themba Mofokeng thinks South Africa can come to the rescue:

"If every home in SA can plant cocoa trees, we would be able to supply to the market."

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Samuel Amanor talks about the world cocoa market:

"Ghana and Ivory Coast control global chocolate prices, not just in SA."

Woman tries R1k chocolate in TikTok video

Briefly News, in a related article about a TikTok video, features two women jumping on a costly food trend. The friends shared a vlog on TikTok documenting their experience trying a trendy food item that gained popularity on social media.

Viewers were hooked as the pair prepared to review an expensive chocolate. South Africans joked about the high price, saying, “Nothing wrong with Cadbury.”

Source: Briefly News