Chocolate turns to gold in Israel: Prices soar 50% in 2025

Chocolate, once a basic treat in the Israeli shopping basket, is rapidly becoming a luxury. Over the past two years, prices have surged, and there’s no sign of relief.

Strauss, one of Israel’s leading food manufacturers, recently announced another round of price hikes set to take effect in July, raising the price of its popular “Red Cow” chocolate bar by 15.8%. That means a bar currently selling at Rami Levy for 7.90 shekels ($2.33) will soon cost 9 shekels ($2.65), and 7.5 shekels ($2.21) during promotions. Just a year ago, the same bar was selling for around 4.5 shekels ($1.33) on sale, a stunning 50% increase in promotional pricing.

Data from the government’s “Prices” comparison website shows the upward trend is consistent across retailers. At Shufersal Deal, the 100g Red Cow chocolate with rice crisps rose from 5.90 shekels ($1.74) in May 2023 (or 4.50 shekels [$1.33] on sale) to 8.40 shekels ($2.48) in May 2025 (or 7.50 shekels [$2.21] on sale), a 67% jump in just two years.

Yochananof customers saw similar increases: a bar that once sold for 5 shekels ($1.47) on sale is now 7 shekels ($2.06), a 40% increase.

Even international brands aren’t spared. A Milka Oreo 100g bar jumped from 6.90 shekels ($2.03) to 9.90 shekels ($2.92), a steep 44% rise.

With cocoa prices skyrocketing globally due to a virus and severe weather in West Africa, chocolate may soon be less of a daily treat and more of a special-occasion indulgence.