Styling and Photography by LAURIE MOSCO

Looks like consumers’ renewed love of chocolate is in for the long haul. Chocolate sales continue to increase, jumping up 9.2% to $17.3 billion in the 52 weeks ending on July 10 (Candy & Snack Today).  That’s even before the major holiday boost! While they’re dedicated to chocolate and chocolate snacks, what they’re looking for has changed. Here’s what’s made the top of the must-have list.

Plant-Based & Free-From

One of the biggest trends is not what’s IN their chocolate but what’s NOT.  Nowadays they want their chocolate plant-based (aka no animal products) and palm oil free (Candy Industry).   

A simple way to show you’re on trend is with products that call attention to their plant-based status through name and packaging.  If the plant-based product is from a longtime premium brand like Lindt Classic Oatmilk Salted Caramel Bar, well that only sweetens the deal!

Even when wanting plant-based, they’re looking for unexpected flavors, too. Like Chuao Plant-Based Baconluxious Bar, made with milk chocolate featuring subtle maple notes, sprinkled with bonfire smoked sea salt, and bits of plant-based ‘bacon’. For those hard-core health conscious customers, opt for snack bars packed with indulgent plant-based chocolate flavors like Keto Krisp Plant-Based Peanut Butter Chunk Bar, full of creamy roasted peanuts and rich chocolate at only 4g net carbs, 2g sugar and 10g protein per serving.

Along with plant-based and palm oil free, 20% of consumers want naturally made products with simple ingredients too (Candy Industry). So, plant-based chocolate full of simple ingredients that create bold flavors like Endangered Species will be at the top of their list. Endangered Species’ line of oat milk bars run the gamut of classic combinations like Dark Chocolate and Rice Crisp and Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, to more exotic like Dark Chocolate Coconut & Almonds and Mixed Berries to suit every palate.

Their desire for simple and palm-free ingredients doesn’t mean they want to skimp on indulgence. That’s why we love chocolate bars from Darrell Lea.  Palm-oil free and made with simple ingredients, Darrell Lea sports a cornucopia of comforting flavors. Included in the mix are such favorites like Milk Chocolate Peanut Brittle Bar, full of salty peanuts and crunchy caramel pieces, Rocklea Road, a blend of marshmallows, coconut, and peanuts, and Milk Chocolate Caramel Craving, with a double dose of caramel from caramel fudge AND crunchy caramel chips.  For those who want to keep their simple ingredients simple, recommend Darrel Lea Milk Chocolate.

Pistachio

Move over peanut and hazelnut, there’s a new nut in town driving confectionery fans nuts – pistachio (Candy Industry). There doesn’t seem to be a particular way that consumers want to see the pistachio prepared, as long as that subtly sweet taste is in there!  For a traditional preparation, tempt their gourmet side with Chuao Dark Chocolate Triple Nut Temptation, with its decadent assortment of whole roasted pistachios, almonds, and hazelnuts. 

You can also use pistachio flavor to pull in other confectionery trends like a snack bar made with simple ingredients as in Thunderbird Pecan Goji Pistachio Snack bar, full of wholesome dates, gold berries, pecans, and pistachios.  For a simple snack bar full of premium flavors with a sugar-free twist, offer Sweetwell Cashew Pistachio & Milk Chocolate Keto Bars sweetened with stevia. 

Functional Ingredients

Today’s consumers are looking for their confections to be fun and FUN-ctional.  That means they’re seeking bars with claims like high fiber, no added sugar, or low sugar (Candy Industry). One such brand putting the FUN in functional is gourmet chocolate brand Chocolove and its XO line of no sugar added, fiber-rich chocolate bars. Though they’re free of sugar (only sweetened with inulin from chicory root and isomalt from beets), Chocolove XO bars don’t skimp on indulgent flavors.  There’s Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate Mint, even Salted Peanut Butter and Elderberries & Blueberries too.

For those who prefer their sweetness to come from stevia, there’s Lily’s chocolate bars.  Fair Trade, gluten free, AND only sweetened with stevia, Lily’s satisfies their cravings for chocolate and simple, sugar free ingredients.  Lily’s has all their chocolate flavor favorites like Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel,  Dark Chocolate Almond, and Extra Dark Chocolate Sea Salt.

Sugar free is only ONE of the functional ingredients that drawing attention in the confectionery section.  Lots of consumers are now ‘pro’ probiotics.  You’ll be the boss if you offer probiotics paired with protein and indulgent flavors like Lenny & Larry’s The Boss! Immunity Snack Bars.  Made with dairy and plant-based protein, BC30 Probiotics, AND packed with fun flavors like Chocolate Mint Brownie, Peanut Butter Cup,  and Caramel Macchiato, Lenny & Larry’s The Boss! Immunity Snack Bars will satisfy their needs for functional ingredients and flavor.

Consumers’ love affair with chocolate is long-term, and they like to spice things up every now and again.  Keep the flames of chocolate love burning hot by offering the confection they love a whole choco-LOT full of today’s trends.

We have what’s trending in chocolate