{
  "id": 9698844,
  "title": "Schokoladenwerk in Bochum: Schoko-Produktion fürs Weihnachtsgeschäft im vollen Gang",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/schokoladenwerk-in-bochum-schoko-produktion-furs-weihnachtsgeschaft",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-25T04:00:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/schokoladenwerk-in-bochum-schoko-produktion-fuers-weihnachtsgeschaeft-im-vollen-gang/100257330.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "In Bochum, the Ruth chocolate factory is busily producing chocolate figures for the Christmas market, just three months before Christmas. Most of the production is done by hand, with the aid of molds and brushes. The production hall has been smelling like chocolate and fillings since summer. For the industry, Christmas often starts as early as early summer, as it is a traditional important seasonal business for the chocolate industry, according to a spokesperson for the German Association of the Confectionery Industry. The food trade plans the Christmas business several months in advance, as order dates for seasonal products are often fixed as early as spring or early summer. As early as September, people's anticipation for winter and Christmas increases, leading to higher demand for seasonal sweets. At Ruth in Bochum, Christmas chocolate has been in production for several weeks now. About 70 percent of the production is done manually, with only 30 percent supported by machines. Creativity and a gentle hand are essential. One example is \"Chris the Christmas Teddy Bear,\" which is shaped in a mold with front and back sides. A worker first paints the front with a red chocolate spot for the cap, and the pom-pom is painted white. The bears are then hung on a carousel until they harden. Similar methods are used for snowmen. Trees are coated with a glossy glaze, and \"Nikolaus heads\" are also popular. Chocolate prices remain expensive due to consistently high cocoa raw material costs, primarily driven by extreme price increases. Marketers have hinted at price reductions for some brands, such as Lindt, which plans reductions for many of its products, potentially cutting more than a fifth off the prices of some Christmas-themed items. The consumer demand for branded items tends to be weakened due to high prices, resulting in a twelve percent decline in Christmas chocolate sales in 2025, according to the market research firm NIQ. Feasts bring joy during the holidays \"Generally, people feel a strong reluctance to spend money, holding onto their funds,\" explains Alina Thieme from the German Association of the Food Trade. Nevertheless, holidays remain an occasion to treat oneself. The trade offers a wide variety of affordable Christmas-themed products. Despite rising costs, the chocolate industry remains optimistic. The raw material price crisis persists, with no signs of improvement in spring. Rising energy and other raw material costs further increase production expenses.",
  "summary": "Wie entwickeln sich die Preise für Nikolaus, Weihnachtsmann und Co. in dieser Saison? Verbraucher griffen zuletzt wegen hoher Schokopreise weniger zu. In Bochum entstehen Schmuckstücke in Handarbeit.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}