Waldenbuch, Germany — April 23, 2026 Ritter Sport, the iconic German chocolate manufacturer, is cutting jobs for the first time in its 114-year history due to soaring raw material prices and operational costs, with plans to eliminate around 70 administrative positions in its Waldenbuch headquarters.
Financial Struggles and Job Cuts
Ritter Sport, known for its square chocolate bars, is facing unprecedented financial challenges, slipping into the red in 2025 despite a 17.7% increase in revenue to €712 million, up from €605 million in 2024. A company spokesperson confirmed that 2024 had still been profitable, but by January 2026, the situation had deteriorated.
The job cuts, targeting administrative roles, represent about one in ten positions at the Waldenbuch site, where roughly 1,000 of the company’s 1,900 global employees work. Of these, over 600 are in administration. The move marks a historic shift for the family-owned business, which had never before resorted to layoffs in its century-long operation.
Rising Costs and Market Pressures
The company cited skyrocketing costs for cocoa, energy, and packaging as primary factors behind the restructuring. According to the Statistisches Bundesamt, the price of a chocolate bar had surged by 71% since 2020 by March 2026, reflecting broader inflationary trends in the food industry.
Ritter Sport’s struggles mirror wider challenges in the confectionery sector, where producers grapple with volatile commodity prices and shifting consumer demand. The spokesperson emphasized that the layoffs were a last resort, stating, "Das sei der erste Stellenabbau in der mehr als 110-jährigen Unternehmensgeschichte" ("This is the first job reduction in the more than 110-year company history").