Lindt & Sprüngli cuts 2026 sales growth forecast
Lindt & Sprüngli lowers its 2026 growth outlook citing geopolitical tensions and weaker tourism, while reporting strong 2025 profits and continued premium chocolate demand.
SWITZERLAND – Lindt & Sprüngli has lowered its sales growth forecast for 2026, warning that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are weighing on consumer confidence and tourism, two key drivers of demand for premium chocolate.
The Swiss luxury chocolate maker said it now expects organic sales growth of between 4% and 6% this year, compared with its previous outlook of 6% to 8% for 2026 and beyond. Organic growth excludes the impact of exchange rate movements.
Chief Executive Officer Adalbert Lechner said the shift in consumer behaviour became noticeable following escalating tensions in the region.
“When the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East kicked in, we clearly saw consumers holding back,” Lechner told reporters during a press conference.
The company also highlighted a decline in tourism as another factor affecting sales. Tourism is particularly important for the premium chocolate group, which sells a large share of its products at airports and in major tourist destinations including London, Paris and Vienna.
Despite the cautious outlook, the company said it would continue raising prices in the first half of the year to offset rising costs, including a double-digit price increase for its Easter product range.
Lechner said the company expects sales volumes to decline during the first half of 2026 before returning to growth later in the year.
The company also noted that consumers using GLP-1 weight-loss medications are purchasing more premium chocolate rather than less.
Citing internal data based on research from Circana, the company said premium chocolate sales among U.S. consumers using GLP-1 drugs increased by nearly 17% in 2025, compared with 6.5% among non-users.
Lechner explained the trend by noting that consumers may be shifting toward more selective indulgence.
The company reported organic sales growth of 12.4% in 2025, its fastest pace since 2021. However, the growth was largely driven by a 19% increase in pricing rather than higher product volumes.
Lindt & Sprüngli reported total sales of CHF 5.92 billion (US$7.6 billion), compared with CHF 5.47 billion in the previous year. The result was slightly below analysts’ expectations of CHF 5.93 billion.
Earnings before interest and taxes reached 971 million Swiss francs in 2025, surpassing the analysts’ average forecast of 968.9 million francs, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
