Back to growth?: Chocolate giant Lindt & Sprüngli dismisses CEO Lechner

Chocolate manufacturers are struggling with high cocoa costs - consumers are sensitive to the drastic price increases. Lindt & Sprüngli expects hardly any growth in 2026. Now CEO Adalbert Lechner has to go.

After two sales warnings within a year, Lindt & Sprüngli is pulling the ripcord: the Swiss chocolate manufacturer is separating from CEO Adalbert Lechner. The board of directors believes new leadership is necessary to get the company back on track for growth.

Former CEO Dieter Weisskopf will take over leadership on an interim basis with immediate effect, as Lindt & Sprüngli announced in Kilchberg. The 71-year-old was CFO for many years and had already managed the group until 2022. He is also a member of the board of directors. A permanent successor is expected to be appointed in the second quarter of 2027.

The board of directors came to the conclusion that Lindt & Sprüngli needed new operational management in order to return to consistent, strong growth and better exploit market opportunities worldwide, it said.

The 65-year-old Lechner worked for Lindt & Sprüngli for 33 years and took over group management at the beginning of 2022. The company did not provide any further information about the circumstances of the separation.

Lindt & Sprüngli has been struggling with sales problems for months. Because of the sharp increase in cocoa prices, the manufacturer of Lindor balls and chocolate bunnies had massively increased its sales prices. In the first half of 2026, the markups averaged 11.8 percent. At the same time, the volumes sold fell significantly.

In Germany, Switzerland and Great Britain in particular, consumers reacted more sensitively to the higher prices than expected. Lindt therefore began offering individual products at lower prices again in the summer. The group also relies on smaller packs.

At the end of September, Lindt had to lower its sales forecast for the second time this year. Instead of the originally expected organic growth of 6 to 8 percent, the group only expects 0 to 2 percent for 2026. In addition to the high prices, the summer heat in Europe also put a strain on business. The forecast reduction triggered a fall in prices on the stock market.

Interim boss Weisskopf now primarily wants to get the European business back on track for growth. At the same time, investments in the brands should be increased and profitability improved. Business is doing significantly better in North America and Asia.

There is also a change in leadership in Germany. Country manager Michal Spiller is leaving the company after 23 years. His successor will be the previous Austria boss Ali Kulein.