The renowned Riegelein chocolates, which can be found in almost every German Christmas dish and Easter basket, are now becoming a thing of the past. By 2026, the factories will be shutting down one by one, followed by the closure of the largest warehouse in Forchheim in 2027.
Company spokesperson Dieter Schäfer stated, 'Demand has fallen, and energy and raw material prices have risen. We are now forced to adapt our production to market conditions.'
In response to declining demand, Riegelein merged with its competitor Gubor in 2019 to form the Gubor Group. The group later entered into a partnership with the Polish company Colian.
However, even mergers could not provide a safe haven from the storm of rising costs. The famous factory outlet store 'Chocothek' in Cadolzburg will also close on the same date. The group plans to shift production to other facilities. The warehouse in Forchheim will also shut its doors in 2027.