Chocolate Prices Heat Up, Carol Widman’s Stays Cool

Co-owner Carol Widman herself says she doesn't see the price surge affecting business too much.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – The soaring price of cocoa has lead to big changes for chocolatiers around the world.

Here in Fargo, though, it’s business as usual for one sweet shop, at least for now.

“I think that we’ll be stable,” said co-owner of Carol Widman’s Candy Co. and member of the Widman chocolate dynasty, Carol Widman.

“We go with the flow and we watch it and so forth.”

By “it,” Carol means the soaring price of cocoa, which increased more than literally any other commodity in 2024.

In December, it set a new record high, trading for 13 thousand dollars per metric ton on the international exchange.

Industry experts attribute this to poor climate and bean disease in West Africa, which is home to 70 percent of global cocoa production.

It’s led to changes for titans of the industry – but it seems that the effect hasn’t been as brutal on small businesses with in-house production such as the Candy Co.

Carol, at the moment, is focused on restocking the store after a busy and successful holiday season.

“Essentially after Christmas every year we start like a new business,” she said.

“We have to make everything again and get it ready to be packed up by the end of January, which is really a rush. So that’s where we are now.”