"Seeing month-on-month inflation flatten to just 0.02% in January is a highly encouraging start to 2026. The unwinding of the cocoa crisis and the sharp drops in oils & fats provide much-needed relief to operators after the challenging inflationary environment of recent years."
"Global cocoa futures have fallen to multi-year lows, influenced by better harvests in West Africa and rising global inventories. While it may take time for this reduction in raw commodity prices to fully affect processed products, this downward trend signifies a crucial turning point for the sector."
"Seasonal and structural challenges pushed fresh produce prices higher in January. High energy costs for glasshouse-grown berries in Europe have affected fruit prices, and there was a 30% drop in Spanish lemon volumes. Meanwhile, the fish category continues to face significant pressure, with cod prices reaching record highs."
Food and drink prices in hospitality showed significant stabilization in January with month-on-month inflation slowing to just 0.02%. Multiple categories experienced price relief, including oils and fats which decreased, bread and cereals which saw slight reductions, and meat and poultry which remained stable as post-Christmas demand cooled. Severe inflationary pressures from sugar, chocolate, and coffee categories throughout 2024 and 2025 have begun alleviating, with global cocoa futures falling to multi-year lows due to better West African harvests and rising inventories. However, inflationary pressures persist in fresh produce due to seasonal factors and high European glasshouse energy costs, while fish prices remain under significant pressure with cod reaching record highs from restricted quotas.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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