Mondelēz rethinks chocolate innovation as high cocoa prices linger

Food Dive reported the development on 2026-03-12. The Toblerone maker is selling more bars with fillings like caramel and nougat while expanding its premium lineup even as commodity costs have come down from record highs.

The report places the news in a wider commercial context. Mondelēz International is reducing chocolate in some new launches and debuting more premium options as the Milka and Toblerone maker continues to feel the impact of high cocoa prices, its top executive said.

For the food sector, the practical implications extend beyond the immediate announcement. Large companies, such as Mondelēz, typically purchase cocoa supplies nearly a year in advance of when their finished products reach store shelves — so they likely won’t benefit from lower commodity costs until 2027, provided there isn’t more unexpected volatility to rattle the cocoa market. Dirk Van de Put, Mondelēz’s CEO, told analysts at the Consumer Analysts Group.

Attention now turns to how companies, customers and regulators respond. Changes include offering more bars filled with nougat, caramel, nuts and fruits — which require less chocolate than solid blocks or tablets. Mondelēz is also expanding its premium chocolate, a space “where consumers consistently seek innovative indulgence and are willing to pay more for it,” the executive said.