Chocolate maker Lindt says customer sentiment hit by rising oil prices

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG

10/03/2026 10:03

KILCHBERG, Switzerland, March 10(Reuters) - Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli LISN.S lowered its sales outlook for 2026 because of weak consumer sentiment dampened by higher fuel prices, Chief Executive Adalbert Lechner said on Tuesday.

Sales in the Middle East directly affected by the Iran crisis were negligible, but lower numbers of people travelling via the region's airport hubs would reduce sales, he said.

Low consumer sentiment had been improving, but had taken a knock amid rising oil prices, Lechner told reporters.

 (Reporting by John Revill, Editing by Friederike Heine)

 ((John.Revill@thomsonreuters.com; +41 41 528 36 37; Reuters Messaging: john.revill.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))