As chocolate prices rise one, Lincoln chocolatier is focused on keeping Valentine’s Day affordable

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Erika Jensen owns The Chocolate Season in Lincoln and despite the costs of chocolate having increased, she’s hoping to keep traffic coming into the store ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Jensen says love lives in her store every day of the year and they prepare for more of it before Valentine’s Day annually, but keeping her store stocked is a task that comes at a price.

According to Datasembly, prices for chocolate has gone up by 14.4% year-over-year between January and early February, a big rise from the 7.8 percent increase a year prior.

Jensen says it’s a trend she’s growing accustomed to over the years.

“We still are seeing increases, not just because we have a shortage of supply of cacao, but also with some tariffs with Switzerland, France, things like that, and we’ve tried really, really hard to find other ways to keep products attainable for people,” she said.

Her solution to this is offering variety.

“We do change our collection four to five times a year, which is awesome,” she said. “We want to keep providing the services and products and the high integrity that we do with everything that we serve you guys.”

Jensen’s regular customers agree, like Don Gibbens, who says the ever-increasing prices won’t stop him from taking home a sweet snack.

“I don’t really think about that. Everything has doubled since last year,” he said.

Jensen says that she will continue to think of creative ways to keep prices low.