Lindt cuts 2026 sales target to 0-2% after European customers reduce orders
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Lindt & Sprüngli, the Swiss chocolate maker, has lowered its full-year 2026 organic sales growth forecast to 0-2% from a previous estimate of 4-6%, citing weaker demand in Germany, Switzerland and Austria after the company raised prices and faced unusually hot weather during the summer. The company said consumers have become more price-sensitive, resulting in lower-than-expected orders, particularly for seasonal products in all three markets. Adalbert Lechner, chief executive of Lindt, said necessary price increases driven by cocoa raw material costs that surged to record highs over the past few years, combined with subdued consumer confidence, led to lower-than-expected order volumes in some European markets. Lindt nevertheless maintained its 2026 target of increasing its earnings before interest and taxes margin by 0.20-0.40 percentage points from the prior year, as performance in North America and Asia remained stronger, partly offsetting weakness in its core European markets. With cocoa prices down from their peak, the company expects cost pressures to gradually ease in the coming months. Lindt expects sales volumes to return to positive growth in 2027, supported by its pricing strategy, increased brand investment, new product launches and cost reductions. It kept its medium- to long-term organic sales growth target at 6-8% and its goal of raising the EBIT margin by 0.20-0.40 percentage points annually from 2028 onward. Lindt reported sales of 5.92 billion Swiss francs in 2025 and is scheduled to release its 2026 net sales figures on January 19, 2027.