"They've ruined the world": Ritter Sport becomes more expensive due to the "chocolate crisis"
n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Ritter-Sport-wird-durch-Schokoladenkrise-teurer-id30141046.html
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Ritter Sport Raises Prices Amid Cocoa Cost SurgeCocoa prices doubled to $5500 per ton, causing Ritter Sport to increase chocolate prices and face a 10% sales drop.
- Cocoa costs have more than doubled recently, reaching nearly $5500 per ton, significantly impacting chocolate production.
- Ritter Sport anticipates ongoing price hikes due to climate change effects on tropical products like cocoa.
- The company plans to maintain the 100-gram bar size while raising prices instead of reducing package weight.
- Price increases have already led to sales declines of up to 10%, with retail price limits around two to three euros.
I have to say it clearly: We have destroyed the world.— Andreas Ronken, CEO of Ritter Sport, on the impact of the chocolate crisis and climate change.
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nutritionally dense or sweet food product from the seed of Theobroma cacao - cocoa bean
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"They've ruined the world": Ritter Sport becomes more expensive due to the "chocolate crisis"
n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Ritter-Sport-wird-durch-Schokoladenkrise-teurer-id30141046.html
Location Germany: "I often think: We're still doing too well," says the Ritter Sport CEO
welt.de/wirtschaft/article693e63b9629fc38b106a2f11/standort-deutschland-oft-denke-ich-uns-geht-es-noch-zu-gut-sagt-der-ritter-sport-chef.html
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Ritter Sport: Chocolate crisis continues, bars remain at 100 grams: Chocolate is becoming increasingly expensive; some manufacturers are even reducing the size ...
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Chocolate crisis - | Ritter Sport CEO expects prices to rise further: The CEO of chocolate manufacturer Ritter Sport, Andreas Ronken, expects chocolate prices to ...
stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.schokoladenkrise-ritter-sport-chef-rechnet-mit-weiter-steigenden-preisen.3ff9164d-a110-405d-a1a3-7f92711e48ce.html
Ritter Sport CEO: | "We are currently experiencing a chocolate crisis": WALDENBUCH. The Ritter Sport CEO expects chocolate prices to continue rising.
nachrichten.at/wirtschaft/wir-erleben-gerade-eine-schokoladenkrise;art15,4118052
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Dispute over square packaging with Wacker GmbH: Higher Regional Court rules in favor of Ritter Sport
swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/stuttgart/olg-verfahren-ritter-sport-wacker-mannheim-waldenbuch-100.html
Key FactsStuttgart court apparently favors Ritter Sport in packaging dispute
3 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: swr.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: swr.de
- The Stuttgart Higher Regional Court appears to favor Ritter Sport; judgment is scheduled for November 5.
- The dispute, ongoing since early 2025, concerns Wacker’s square-packaged oat bar “Monnemer Quadrat Bio” from Mannheim.
- Presiding Judge Christoph Stefani found above-average similarity and confusion risk, supporting claims for an injunction and damages.
- The Wacker couple said they were shocked; their lawyer said costs could reach 80,000 euros if they lose.
Thus there has been 'a violation of the Trademark Act'.— Judge Christoph Stefani, presiding judge at the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court, during the hearing; stated that there was a violation of trademark law.
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Key FactsRitter Sport Transition to Family-Led Management
May 18, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: stuttgarter-nachrichten.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: stuttgarter-nachrichten.de
- Management responsibilities shifted in May 2026 to Moritz Ritter and Tim Hoppe, both descendants of the founders.
- Andreas Ronken, who shaped the company since 2015, is stepping down from his leadership role.
- The company responded to financial pressure by implementing cost cuts, including job eliminations.
- Increasing raw material and energy prices, along with weaker consumer demand, prompted significant restructuring.
Against this backdrop, we have decided to take on responsibility ourselves, in order to complete the necessary transformation together with the management and the employees and to set the course for a successful future.— Ritter and Hoppe, as stated in the company announcement; co-CEOs of Ritter Sport
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Key FactsRitter Sport Cuts Jobs Due to Rising Costs
Apr 23, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: stuttgarter-nachrichten.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: stuttgarter-nachrichten.de
- Ritter Sport faces significant cost increases in cocoa, energy, logistics, and packaging that negatively impact profits.
- Although revenue rose by 17.7% to 712 million euros in 2025, the company could not offset the escalating expenses.
- Approximately 70 administrative jobs will be cut in Waldenbuch to maintain the family business's operational viability.
- Employees affected will receive support through a transfer company, but layoffs due to operational reasons remain possible.
The step is hard for us, but there is no other option. We want to remain able to act as a family-owned company.— Thomas Seeger, Ritter Sport spokesperson, on the planned job cuts
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Summary created with AI assistance · Source: t-online.de
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