Chocolate sales are rising faster among users of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in the US than the wider population, Lindt & Sprüngli has claimed.
The Swiss chocolatier said an internal study, based on February data from market researcher Circana, found 15% of US households use GLP-1s and represent 17.5% of chocolate sales.
While users of Mounjaro, WeGovy and Ozempic were cutting back on some high-calorie categories, such as pasta, pizza and crisps, they were still seeking indulgence through chocolate, chief executive Adalbert Lechner told a news conference on Tuesday.
“They are upgrading to premium products. Less is more – small rewards with moment of bliss rather than mindless munching,” said Lechner.
According to Lindt, US sales of premium chocolate increased among GLP-1 users by nearly 17% in 2025, compared with a 6.5% rise among non-GLP-1 users.
Analysts at Berenberg had expected the introduction of oral GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to have an adverse effect on the food industry, particularly confectionery, over the next few years. They anticipated a drag on sales volumes of 0.9 percentage points for Lindt in 2027.
However, Lechner said that he did not see GLP-1 drugs as a threat to future business and expected anticipated regulatory approvals of oral GLP-1 drugs in Europe to have a similar impact on consumer behaviour as in the US.
Lindt hiked its prices by 19% in 2025 in reaction to the record spike in cocoa commodity costs. The move drove a 12.4% jump in organic sales growth last year but led to a 6.6% decline in volumes.
The Grocer’s analysis shows that Lindt’s like-for-like pre-promotional shelf prices are up by an average 10.6% year on year in the traditional big four supermarkets [Assosia 11 March 2025 vs 11 March 2026].
No comments yet