The Italian confectionery sector is facing a difficult situation due to the hazelnut crisis.

Poor harvests have caused prices for this nut to rise, affecting brands like Nutella and Kinder. However, a lethal mix of climatic, economic, and structural factors has triggered what is now being called "the hazelnut crisis," with effects impacting the entire confectionery industry chain. Farmers' organizations have reported that production has fallen between 40% and 50% compared to last year's harvest, an unprecedented situation. It is a tragic situation for a country like Italy, which is the world's second-largest hazelnut producer. Production has fallen sharply, causing retail prices to skyrocket. The average price of a quintal currently exceeds 500 euros. In contrast, last year it didn't even reach 400. The price of hazelnuts is approximately 14 euros per yield point, which is the ratio between the cleaned nut and the nut in the shell; compared to 10 euros in 2024 and 7 euros in 2023. The decision has been made to diversify and acquire supplies from other nations, such as the US and Chile, because the cost of hazelnuts from Turkey had doubled due to the shortage.