受氣候變化影響，全球可可豆產(chǎn)量銳減，進(jìn)而推高可可豆價(jià)格，再加上通脹導(dǎo)致的能源、運(yùn)輸?shù)瘸杀静粩嗌蠞q，美國多個(gè)品牌的巧克力自去年起就開始漲價(jià)。據(jù)美國零售聯(lián)合會預(yù)計(jì)，今年美國人在復(fù)活節(jié)巧克力兔上的花費(fèi)將大幅減少。

Credit first-generation German-American Robert Lincoln Strohecker, known in confectioner’s lore as the "Father of the Chocolate Easter Bunny."

第一代德裔美國人羅伯特·林肯·施特羅埃克爾是糖果界的傳奇人物，被譽(yù)為“復(fù)活節(jié)巧克力兔之父”。

The source of Strohecker’s legend was a massive 5-foot-tall (or perhaps even taller) solid chocolate rabbit he displayed outside Pennsylvania retailers in 1890 to popularize smaller versions of his new Easter sweets born of German tradition.

1890年，為了推廣這一德國復(fù)活節(jié)傳統(tǒng)甜食，他曾在美國賓夕法尼亞州零售店門外豎起了一只至少5英尺高（約合1.5米）的實(shí)心巧克力兔。這只巨大的巧克力兔開啟了施特羅埃克爾在糖果界的傳奇生涯。

Strohecker's chocolate Easter bunny sales gimmick was an instant sensation. Americans purchase about 90 million Easter bunnies each year, according to WalletHub.

施特羅?？藸栕鳛殇N售噱頭的巨型復(fù)活節(jié)巧克力兔在當(dāng)時(shí)立刻引起了轟動。美國個(gè)人理財(cái)和信用評分網(wǎng)站W(wǎng)alletHub稱，美國人每年購買的復(fù)活節(jié)巧克力兔多達(dá)9000萬只。

The chocolate Easter bunny business he inspired, however, is being crippled by inflation here in 2024.

被施特羅?？藸枎Щ鸬膹?fù)活節(jié)巧克力兔生意到了2024年卻因?yàn)橥ㄘ浥蛎浂鴵p失慘重。

Cocoa futures have doubled just since the start of 2024, according to industry data, after soaring 60% in 2023.

行業(yè)數(shù)據(jù)顯示，可可豆期貨在2023年大漲60%，自2024年初以來已經(jīng)翻了一倍。

Rising costs, including on energy and transportation, are being met by lower supplies.

一方面，能源和運(yùn)輸?shù)瘸杀静粩嗌蠞q，另一方面，原料供應(yīng)又減少了。

The International Cocoa Organization reported last month that cocoa production is down 11% this year, citing poor weather conditions in West Africa, which produces two-thirds of the world's crop.

國際可可組織上月報(bào)告稱，由于西非天氣條件不佳，可可豆今年的產(chǎn)量下降了11%。全球三分之二可可豆都產(chǎn)自西非。

Many farmers blame climate change for their poor crops. Cacao trees only grow close to the equator and are especially sensitive to changes in weather.

許多西非農(nóng)民將可可豆產(chǎn)量下降歸咎于氣候變化。可可樹只能種植在赤道附近，對天氣變化極為敏感。

Sugar prices are also rising. Futures for a pound of sugar are up about 8% in 2024, after rising 2.7% in 2023.

糖的價(jià)格也在上漲。2024年以來1磅糖的期貨價(jià)格上漲約8%，2023年上漲2.7%。

Big chocolate companies like Hershey's and Cadbury maker Mondelez have been passing those costs on to consumers — and then some: Hershey's net profit margins ticked higher to 16.7% in 2023 from 15.8% in 2022. Mondelez reported a jump to 13.8% in 2023 from 8.6% in 2022.

巧克力巨頭好時(shí)和生產(chǎn)吉百利糖果的億滋公司正在將成本轉(zhuǎn)嫁到消費(fèi)者身上。好時(shí)的凈利潤率從2022年的15.8%提高到2023年的16.7%。億滋報(bào)告稱凈利潤率從2022年的8.6%提高到2023年的13.8%。

Hershey raised prices on chocolate overall last year as inflation surged and said it increased prices on some grocery items early in 2024.

好時(shí)公司的巧克力產(chǎn)品去年全面漲價(jià)，理由是通脹率飆升，并表示在2024年初已進(jìn)一步上調(diào)部分食品價(jià)格。

Both companies reported shrinking sales volumes for their most recent quarters as consumers grow tired of paying higher food prices.

兩家公司在剛剛過去的幾個(gè)季度都宣布銷售額下滑，因?yàn)橄M(fèi)者受不了價(jià)格上漲。

Chocolate giant Hershey witnessed a 6.6% decline in sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2023 and announced job cuts in February.

巧克力巨頭好時(shí)公司2023年四季度的銷量下降6.6%，并在今年2月份宣布裁員。

Here in the United States, the National Retail Federation expects spending on chocolate Easter eggs and bunnies to drop from $3.3 billion in 2023 to $3.1 billion in 2024 — a potential 6% decrease. Its latest survey shows that consumers are expected to spend $3.1 billion on candy for Easter this year, or $24.78 per person. That's down from $3.3 billion, or $26.31 per person a year ago.

美國零售聯(lián)合會預(yù)計(jì)，美國人在復(fù)活節(jié)巧克力蛋和巧克力兔上的花費(fèi)將從2023年的33億美元降至2024年的31億美元，降幅可能會達(dá)到6%。美國零售聯(lián)合會的最新調(diào)查顯示，美國消費(fèi)者2024年預(yù)計(jì)在復(fù)活節(jié)巧克力上的人均花費(fèi)為24.78美元，而去年同期的人均花費(fèi)為26.31美元。

"Whatever is going on in the world, people don't give up shopping for chocolate," said Maegan Dec, president of Hilliard's Chocolates, a 100-year-old, family-owned business in Easton, Massachusetts.

美國麻省伊斯頓市百年家族企業(yè)希利亞德巧克力的董事長梅根·德克表示：“無論世界上發(fā)生什么，人們都不會放棄購買巧克力?！?/p>

She said business this year remains unaffected, citing loyal customers seeking artisan chocolates. But the prospect of long-term rising costs and dwindling supplies is "scary."

她說，希利亞德巧克力公司今年的生意沒有受影響，還有忠實(shí)的客戶訂購手工巧克力。但是長期成本上漲和原料供應(yīng)減少的前景“很可怕”。

英文來源：?？怂剐侣劸W(wǎng)、哥倫比亞廣播公司新聞網(wǎng)、《財(cái)富》雜志官網(wǎng)

翻譯&編輯：丹妮

審核：董靜、齊磊