• Taste Tomorrow's predictions of chocolate industry trends, based on insights from a global survey of 20.000 consumers in 50 countries, together with the latest AI-driven online data analysis.
With what chocolate innovations should chocolatiers conquer the niche market? In this 2024 forecast for the chocolate industry, Taste Tomorrow highlights the chocolate trends that are most popular or emerging quickly among consumers around the world. Taste Tomorrow's research provides insight into consumer desires and motivations that manufacturers can use to stay on top.
1. Mood Foods – Stress Relievers
Many consumers consider chocolate to be an essential part of a healthy diet. Especially now that a positive state of mind is seen as part of optimal health, foods that make you happy are becoming a "must". Ingredients that contribute to overall well-being by amplifying positive feelings – such as chocolate – are highly sought after. 65% of consumers worldwide already purchase foods that support mental health, but interest is really growing in the Middle East and Africa (82%) and South America (81%).
Anxiety management and stress reduction are especially important. Some research suggests that flavonoids - plant compounds with antioxidant properties - found in dark chocolate could have beneficial effects on brain function, making it easier to manage stressful situations.
Other studies have shown that consuming products rich in cocoa may improve mood in the short term. But beyond all scientific evidence, every chocolate lover, of course, knows for a long time how comforting it can be to enjoy that delicious, heart-warming taste.
Health benefits
Consumers who want to benefit from better concentration, more energy or a better mood are increasingly opting for chocolate with added herbs. Flowers, leaves, roots, seeds or stems of plants that are valued for their medicinal, aromatic or culinary properties are incorporated into chocolate. Think rosemary, cinnamon, hibiscus, eucalyptus or cardamom. These herbs and spices often enhance the health benefits of cocoa beans.
68% of consumers worldwide believe that plants bring additional health benefits to chocolate, a massive increase of 15% compared to 2021. And 73% of respondents appreciate the special taste that plants add to chocolate products. This makes the use of plants in chocolate products second only to nuts and fruits as an ingredient that has both great taste properties and health benefits.
Chocolate brand Wizards Magic offers a chamomile and lavender infused chocolate bar that it calls "Sweet Dreams". The chocolate is infused with these herbs, blueberry and vitamin E to help consumers relax and give them a good night's sleep. The manufacturer cleverly capitalizes on the perceived health benefits of the mentioned herbs, associating the chocolate with a specific time and health-supporting goal.
2. Sustainable agriculture
Fair Trade Original, Rainforest Alliance, slave-free chocolate, climate-neutral chocolate, many chocolate packages are peppered with certifications and labels that give consumers assurances about how the cocoa beans were produced. The Taste Tomorrow survey shows that 68% of consumers globally are interested in products that come from sustainable farming methods.
While sustainable agriculture was primarily geared towards soil fertility, biodiversity and the control of non-dangerous pests, we are now seeing consumers focus on supply chains, sourcing and ethics. A lot of interest is turning to the social impact of growing cocoa beans, with 65% of consumers choosing food if they know for sure that farmers are getting a fair price and/or a decent income. In 2021, the percentage was 60%.
A great way to take advantage of this sustainable farming trend is to use chocolate like Belcolade Cocoa-Trace. Cacao-Trace chocolate supports the social and economic development of cocoa farmers and their communities. There is a balanced distribution of profit within the value chain, with farmers receiving a unique chocolate bonus, a quality premium, in addition to the fair price paid for their beans. This approach results not only in a better life for farmers and their communities, but also in superior tasting chocolate for consumers.
3. Plant-based – healthy and tasty
movement "plant-based" conquer the world of chocolate. It is no longer just small artisanal producers who are launching animal and planet friendly chocolate products. Now even big companies are moving towards this niche sector. An example is the multinational Nestlé which launched a Vegan KitKats.
The manufacturing company modified the recipe of the iconic chocolate tablet so that the ecological footprint is 18% smaller than that of the regular tablet. The chocolate is sustainably sourced and the milk has been replaced with a rice-based alternative to stay close to the texture and taste of the original.
Vegan KitKat is in line with consumers' growing appetite for plant-based foods. 56% of consumers worldwide buy plant-based foods at least once a month, a steep increase from 36% in 2018. Many see plant-based sweets as a guilt-free indulgence. Consumers are increasingly aware of the food industry's impact on the climate and factor it into their purchasing decisions, making vegan chocolate a logical choice.
Healthy and tasty alternatives
Choosing vegan foods also gives consumers a sense of pride, as it demonstrates their concern for health as well as their social conscience. And objections that vegan foods are less tasty are also falling, with 52% agreeing that plant-based alternatives taste just as good as animal-based foods.
In the chocolate industry, the biggest obstacle to making plant-based products was the development of milk-free chocolate and glazemilk-free whites, with the same ease of processing and flexibility of use as its milk counterpart. But thanks to today's solutions and technologies, there are now plant-based chocolate variants for professionals that allow vegan creations to be made without compromising on taste and texture, thus paving the way for the development of new vegan chocolate chocolate products .
Source: THE 3 HOTTEST CHOCOLATE TRENDS FOR 2024
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor of Arta Albă
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