Sugar Free Is Top Sales Trend in Chocolate
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This article originally appeared in Presence Marketing’s October 2021 Industry Newsletter
By Steve Hoffman
“People are really thinking about self-care,” Joanna Lepore, Global Foresight Lead at Mars Wrigley, told the Food Institute. In that pursuit, consumers are seeking moments of indulgence from candy and chocolate, but they are increasingly opting for healthier alternatives. According to IRI data analyzed by the Food Institute, in the 52-week period ending August 8, 2021, chocolate candy dollar sales in the U.S. were up 5.8%, reaching nearly $12.8 billion. However, sales of sugar-free chocolate fared especially well over that 12-month span, increasing 27.4% to roughly $225.64 million. Lepore told the Food Institute that Mars Wrigley is aiming to create snacks to help consumers interested in portion control and consuming a “responsible level of calories and sugar.” She added, “We’re thinking about chocolate as to what role it plays in activating brand values, or giving back to sort of bigger planetary causes, but also thinking about it as being primarily this emotional, social connector.”
In related news, Hershey’s – one of America’s biggest names in chocolate – is responding to the plant-based trend by launching “Oat Made” vegan chocolate bars in select retail markets. “We're working with partners to keep a limited number of stores supplied with a limited quantity of inventory… We'll use the results of our in-market testing to determine whether we take the products to a national launch in the future," said Dan Mohnshine, Hershey’s team lead of strategic growth platforms, in a statement. “After finding that the ingredient formulas of existing products could be improved upon, our masterful R&D team at Hershey developed formulas using oats that we believe deliver better on consumers' expectations than what is in the marketplace today,” he said. Hershey’s launched organic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups earlier this year, and vegan, plant-based Reese’s could be on the horizon, Food & Wine reported.
Iconic natural products company Dr. Bronner’s, however, is already there when it comes to standing behind values, giving back to planetary causes – and innovating plant-based, vegan products. Known worldwide for its natural and organic soaps and for its support of natural health and environmental causes, the company has set its sights on changing the cocoa industry for the better by launching Magic All-One Chocolate, its new line of vegan, fair trade, regenerative organic chocolates. Produced in direct partnership with small-scale cacao farmers, Dr. Bronner’s is using a model it established in 2009 to create its certified organic and fair trade palm oil project, reported Honeysuckle Magazine. “Born from the company’s industry-leading socially and environmentally responsible supply chain and developed with the expertise of world-class Swiss chocolatiers and industry experts—this is a chocolate experience like no other—from the brand that is best known for making soap like no other. Dr. Bronner’s Magic All-One Chocolate is the ultimate expression of ethical business, activist compassion, and deep love for the planet,” the company said in a statement.