What if this was the end of low prices for coffee and chocolate?

January 22, 2025

Jacques Barreau, Grain de Sail General Manager and co-founder

In recent months, the soaring price of coffee and cocoa has been a much-publicized topic, and the increases on store shelves no longer go unnoticed. But why are these products, long accessible at low cost, becoming so expensive? The main cause of this meteoric rise is undoubtedly climate change, which is disrupting growing conditions for these crops.

Extreme and unpredictable weather events are now the norm. These disruptions have a direct impact on the yields of cocoa and coffee growers in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The figures speak for themselves: in the space of a year, the price of cocoa has risen from under $3,000 to over $10,000 a tonne. Coffee is following a similar trajectory, with prices doubling in just a few months.

The result: yield losses of up to 25% in some countries, even though demand remains strong. This dual pressure on supply and demand is driving up prices and increasing their volatility.

For Grain de Sail, a committed chocolate manufacturer and roaster, this situation means an inevitable rise in production costs. We have reduced our margins to limit the impact on our customers, but the economic reality is clear: the era of low-cost coffee and chocolate is behind us. In addition, many producers are turning away from certified organic channels, which are deemed too restrictive and less profitable in the face of high prices, further complicating our supplies of responsible raw materials and impacting on sailing transport despite the carrying capacity of our cargo sailboats.

Despite this, Grain de Sail remains true to its values. We will continue to offer high-quality, responsibly sourced products, even if this means higher prices. In the face of this crisis, we advocate sensible, high-quality consumption: “consume less but better”.

This choice, which runs counter to the practices of some major groups, reflects our commitment to sustainable, respectful production.

We hope that professionals and consumers will support us in this approach by choosing quality and positive impact.