We are optimistic at the end of 2025

This article is available for reading in Trade magazin 2025/12-2026.01

One of the new features of this year’s questionnaire (presented in the previous issue of our magazine) was to identify who confectioners consider to be their biggest competitors: 55.8% of respondents named home bakers. Local confectioners were picked by 32.6%, while only 11.6% considered multinational retail chains to be their main rivals. Raw material prices (8.21 points from 10) and other operating costs such as energy, water and rent (8.47) are deemed to be significant burdens. Among the factors hindering operations, workforce shortage (6.81), administrative burdens (7.6) and the use of different VAT rates (7.05) stood out.

When asked about possible industry or government assistance, most respondents mentioned a uniform, lower VAT rate, a reduction in payroll taxes and an improvement in the quality of vocational training. Responses regarding future prospects were quite mixed: uncertainty prevails, but complete pessimism isn’t typical. There are several positive signs as well. Despite the decline in consumer demand, fewer confectioneries reported a drop in turnover this year, and the rate of decline was also milder, while the proportion of those experiencing growth in turnover increased by 20%. Although inflation and price hikes distort the picture, the majority of customers have accepted the price increases and confectioneries remained places of everyday joy.