Chocolate category resilience and disciplined execution
Mondelez reports the chocolate category remained resilient in 2025 despite significant price increases; the company executed its playbook (list pricing and price-pack architecture) successfully in many markets (notably India, Brazil, Australia, South Africa and ~50% of European markets). Penetration held while frequency and quantity declined, informing targeted recovery actions.
Successful Biscoff collaboration and stepped-up innovation agenda
The Biscoff collaboration was described as "very successful" in 2025 and will be expanded in 2026; management highlighted a strong innovation pipeline led by Biscoff and other European initiatives to drive re-engagement and growth.
Cocoa price normalization expected to drive 2027 margin tailwind
Cocoa prices declined suddenly to levels more in line with historical averages; while 2026 is impacted by existing hedges, management expects a considerable margin improvement for chocolate in 2027 as lower cocoa costs flow through.
Emerging markets momentum (high-single-digit growth)
Emerging markets finished the year around high single digits and are expected to remain a growth engine in 2026 (management expects emerging markets to continue at high single-digit growth, contributing to a 0–2% consolidated organic sales outlook).
Planned recovery and increase in brand investment (A&C)
Advertising & Consumer (A&C) spend was deliberately reduced in 2025 but management plans to step up working media in 2026 and again in 2027; A&A was down ~25% year-over-year in 2025 vs 2024, and the company expects to more than recover that pullback across 2024–2026.
Strong performance from premium and protein-led brands
Select premium and protein offerings (e.g., Perfect Bar, Clif Builders Bar, premium chocolate/date SKUs) are growing strongly (management cited double-digit growth for these franchisees), supporting portfolio resilience and premiumization.
Supply-chain modernization and cocoa sourcing diversification
Mondelez is executing a multi-year supply-chain modernization program (3–4 years) to improve efficiency and network flexibility, and is investing in geographic diversification of cocoa supply (Ecuador, Brazil, other Latin America and some Asian sourcing) and exploring lab-grown cocoa to reduce long-term supply risk.
Prudent guidance with neutral-to-slightly-positive chocolate price-cost balance
2026 guidance was framed conservatively (organic sales 0–2%); chocolate pricing is expected to be broadly flat in 2026 with management targeting a neutral-to-slightly-positive net price-to-cost relationship for chocolate in the year given pipeline hedges and planned investments.