The Economic Times

When chocolate turns costly, India picks candy: Local players dent giants like Mars, Mondelez & Hershey amid cocoa price surge

Major global candy makers saw their slowest India sales in years during FY25. Record cocoa prices forced price increases, pushing shoppers to cheaper options. Hundreds of local companies offered hard candies with big discounts. This competition and rising costs impacted sales for big brands. However, demand is now improving as input costs decrease.