Madrid, December 7 (EFECOM). – The confectionery industry expects to charge up to 4% more this Christmas than last year, “positive” forecasts, although raw materials such as cocoa and eggs have become more expensive, without the sector passing on this increase to the consumer, as it is a campaign that has been planned for months.
This was assured to Efeagro by the Secretary General of the Spanish Confectionery Association (Produlce), Rubén Moreno, who detailed that the forecasts for this Christmas campaign point to growth in line with last year.
According to data from Produlce, the consumption of nougat and marzipan in Spain represents about 80% of total consumption during this period, with 290 million euros recorded in 2024.
“We are reasonably optimistic in this sector as, despite the containment of consumer spending, there remains a strong emotional connection to Christmas sweets and their role in family celebrations,” he explained.
Everything indicates that consumption will remain “solid”, especially at home, where the most traditional moments of pleasure are concentrated on these dates, the association predicted.
The sector is coming to the end of a year marked by an increase in the cost of raw materials such as cocoa. Although there have been some declines this year in 2025 compared to 2024, costs remain high, averaging about $5,018.96 per ton.
Another product that has become more expensive and is an ingredient in many Christmas sweets is the egg.
Its average price has become 18% more expensive in Spain in a year, an increase that began in March and has multifactorial origins, while in the European Union (EU) this staple has increased by 10%, with inflation in the Eurozone at 6.7%.
With all this, Moreno has assured that these fluctuations in raw materials and the tensions in the global context do not have a direct impact on the final price of nougat and marzipan.
“It is a category that is planned months in advance and is generally quite stable and where quality and availability take precedence over market volatility,” he defended.
Nevertheless, consumer organizations assume that the prices for these foods have increased.
Facua-Consumidores en Acción estimates the increase in the cost of Christmas sweets last year at 15.4%, with peak increases of up to 65%, while the OCU has generally warned of an increase in the cost of typical Christmas foods of up to 5%.
Nougat and marzipan are the most popular sweets of these dates, but the influence of foreign trends has led to an increase in the consumption of products such as panettone.
The Association of Artisanal Entrepreneurs of the Pastry Industry of Madrid has also mentioned the “strong” emergence of the Christmas Wood, a “base” of artisanal showcases with different presentations and compositions, with chocolate and fruits in the foreground.
In addition, traditional pastry chefs from Madrid have defended that both the panettone and the Christmas log help to diversify the offer and open up new consumer profiles.
In general, the dates mean an increase in traffic in stores with confectionery offers, as indicated by the Rodilla company, for which the Christmas campaign is a “key point” in sales.EFECOM
(Archive resources at www.lafototeca.com. Code 13992102 and others)
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