Extreme weather in West Africa, where most of the world’s cocoa is grown, has sent prices soaring,  leaving candy companies scrambling ahead of Halloween. To offset costs, brands are shrinking bars and debuting creative new flavors like pink lemonade KitKats and peanut butter and jelly M&Ms.

New York

Chocolate prices are rising due to extreme weather in West Africa, which produces the majority of the world's cocoa, along with increased tariffs and production costs. In response, candy companies are introducing new flavors and reducing cocoa content to manage costs and maintain consumer interest. Shoppers are seeing smaller chocolate bars and a wider variety of unique flavor combinations, such as Pink Lemonade Kit Kats and Peanut Butter and Jelly M&Ms. Despite the higher prices, many consumers remain interested in trying the new offerings, while some retailers are working to keep prices as fair as possible.

Cocoa crisis threatens Halloween candy supplies

Some scary high chocolate prices this Halloween. That's right, extreme weather in West Africa, which accounts for about 70% of the world's cocoa production, combined with tariffs and rising production costs are all helping drive up prices. At Fox Eyes, Meredith Gorman shows us how chocolate companies are getting creative to reduce the impact on your wallet. Candy shoppers may notice some changes this Halloween season. Familiar brands rolling out new spins on classic chocolate favorites. Oh my God, you weren't kidding though. No. It's real. Yes. Yeah, no. New takes on classic candies like Pink Lemonade Kit Kats, Marshmallow Butterfingers, and Peanut Butter and Jelly M&M's are popping up on store shelves. The fun flavors aren't just for novelty. With prices soaring due to a global supply and demand deficit, candy makers are using less cocoa and getting creative with new mixes of flavors and textures to keep prices in check. You can see that in some type of, some kinds of chocolate bars where there's a bit of a shrinkage in the size and the price hasn't changed or the price might even go up. There's a little bit of that, but what you see more in innovation nowadays is a brand that owns multiple different types of brands selling a tablet bar with those different other brands included in the tablet bar. At Economy Candy in downtown Manhattan, owner Mitchell Cohen says they felt the price hikes, but with more than 2,500 kinds of sweets on the shelves, they're just trying to ride it out and keep prices fair for customers. Now it's an additional layer of increased cost, but, you know, we're sticking it out. We're hoping, because you never know what's going to happen in the next quarter, in the next month, who knows? And while rising costs are tough for sellers, shoppers don't seem to mind the shift. Many say the new flavors are catching their eye and adding some extra fun to the candy aisle this Halloween. I feel like they're always interesting, but I feel like I'm also always let down by them. I would buy it, like, just to try it, and if I liked it, then I don't know if I would get it again, but I don't know. I'd just try it. Even if it's not always the most appetizing flavor combination. I think a pink lemonade Kit Kat is probably the worst thing that I would ever put in my mouth. Meredith Gorman, Fox 5 News.

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