Cacau Show projects a recovery this year after facing a difficult year in 2025, marked mainly by the significant increase in cocoa prices on the international market.
“We had the worst result in the last ten years in terms of profitability due to the absurd increase in the price of cocoa. Production costs were six times more expensive for our main raw material”, Alexandre Costa, CEO of Cacau Show, told CNN.
“2026 is a year to recover the margin. We should not go back to the historical margin, certainly not, because, despite the costs being lower than last year, they are still higher than the historical average. In the year, we expect to grow close to 20%”, he said.
Cocoa reached values close to US$ 11 thousand per ton at the peak of prices. This Thursday (29), futures contracts for delivery in March closed at US$4,230 per ton on the New York Stock Exchange.
During the period of rising prices, the company adopted measures to reduce costs and increase industrial efficiency, including the acquisition of new equipment and actions to increase productivity. According to the CEO, these initiatives sought to limit the passing on of costs to consumers and franchisees. “There were adjustments, but at a level lower than the increase in production costs.”
At Easter, the main date for the sector, the company expects to sell 10.5 thousand tons of products, an increase of 13% compared to 2025, in addition to 25.5 million chocolate eggs, an increase of 12.8%. The revenue projection for the period is an increase of 13.6%, with a portfolio of 75 products, 46 of which are launches.
Agro at the center of the strategy
“We are investing in buying new land to plant cocoa. Our strategic objective is for us to be self-sufficient with raw materials in the next 5 to 7 years”, stated the CEO.
Currently, the company has three farms, which account for around 5% of total demand and are focused on niche products.
According to Costa, the expansion faces challenges related to the availability of suitable areas. Regions need access to water, large flat surfaces, proximity to labor and favorable conditions for cultivation in full sun. The company evaluates opportunities in different locations, including Bahia, the north of Espírito Santo and Pará.
