German confectioners produced an estimated 228 million chocolate bunnies for Easter 2025, a 5% decrease from the previous year.

Almost half of the confectionery manufacturers, members of the German Confectionery Industry Association (BDSI), reported slower business, blaming the production drop on significantly higher costs, especially for cocoa.

While the traditional milk chocolate bunny reigns supreme, dark and white chocolate versions, along with vegan-friendly options of lambs, eggs, carrots, and chicks, are also gaining popularity for Easter.

Germans consume nearly half (108 million) of the chocolate bunnies produced domestically, while the other half (120 million) are exported, mainly to nearby European countries as well as to places like the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK.

Chocolate Easter bunnies are more expensive to produce than chocolate bars containing an equivalent amount of cocoa, with additional manufacturing costs ranging from €0.50 to €1.50.

A spokesperson for the confectionery industry told Deutsche Welle that the intricate shapes of chocolate bunnies, chicks, and lambs require processes that differ significantly from standard chocolate bar production, leading to a higher price point.

This increased cost is reflected in consumer pricing, making chocolate Easter bunnies two to three times more expensive than comparable chocolate items.

The BDSI attributes this premium to factors like product design complexities and the challenges of logistics and storage.

Sustainable Cocoa

The use of sustainably sourced cocoa is getting more common in German Easter treats. In 2023, 81% of the cocoa in German confectionery was certified, a significant increase from just 3% in 2011.

The German confectionery industry is involved in numerous initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable cocoa farming, especially in West Africa.

Many companies run programmes aimed at improving the lives of cocoa farmers and their families by boosting incomes, increasing farm productivity and climate resilience, protecting the environment, preventing deforestation, and upholding human rights within the cocoa supply chain.

These efforts involve collaboration with all stakeholders throughout the industry.