Ice Cream Shop Struggles with Rising Chocolate Costs

As warmer weather arrives, the desire for ice cream increases, but the cost of making this treat, particularly chocolate ice cream, is proving to be a challenge for some businesses. An ice cream shop in Haslemere, Surrey, is struggling to maintain profitability due to significant increases in ingredient costs.

The price of chocolate has surged dramatically, with increases of over 240% in the past two years. Even the chocolate sprinkles used by the shop have seen a price hike of 203%, and cocoa powder costs have risen by over 140%. Despite experiencing high customer volume in recent months, the shop has not been able to generate a profit. The rising cost of ingredients, combined with high electricity bills, has made it difficult to manage expenses.

The business shared on social media that the cost of chocolate has increased by 160% since the previous year. Cocoa powder, for example, has jumped from £42 to £102. The shop has expressed concern about the sustainability of offering certain products, such as chocolate sorbet, due to the escalating ingredient costs.

The ice cream company was established in 2014. The business was founded by someone who has been making ice cream since childhood. The company's name and logo pay tribute to the owner's black Labrador. The ice cream is popular with both local residents and visitors.