October 11, 2024 – In the UK, chocolate confectionery are preferred for its indulgence, flavor, and comfort, making it a universal go-to treat for moments of satisfaction. Innova’s 360 research into chocolate confectionery trends highlights the latest product launches, top companies, and what may develop in the future.
Chocolate Confectionery Market Size
The United Kingdom is the second leading region in Europe for confectionery category sales value over the past year. 60% of UK consumers prefer chocolate for indulgence, while 40% seek healthier options by limiting harmful ingredients. In line with this preference, there has been an increase in launches with claims like no additives or preservatives, palm oil free, and reduced sugar. This aligns with Innova’s annual top trend of 2024, ‘Indulging in Health,’ where health and indulgence are converging as brands incorporate health benefits into chocolate products. Over the past four years, the sales value and launch growth for chocolate confectionery averages at 1% each.
Sustainability also plays a significant role, with 23% of consumers in the UK choosing products with environmentally friendly claims. This preference has reflected in the rise of launches with an ethical – environment claim that displays a growth of 10% CAGR over the past year.
The launches from companies donating to Eden Reforestation Projects to protect forests, practicing sustainable farming such as regenerative farming. This includes certifications like Organic Soil Association, Rainforest Alliance and Organic Farming, which highlight a commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible practices. This highlights another Innova’s annual top trend of 2024, Nurturing Nature,’ where brands commitment to sustainability is supported through reforestation and adhering to eco-friendly certifications and practices.
Chocolate Confectionery Product Launch Trends
There has been a 6% rise in chocolate confectionery cluster launches as a percentage of the confectionery category in the United Kingdom over the past three years. Consumers are willing to consider 100% plant-based alternatives as it brings variety to their diet. In line with this, chocolate confectionery with plant-based claims has experienced 6% CAGR growth over the last four years. This aligns with Innova’s annual top trend of 2024, ‘Plant-based: The Rise of Applied Offerings,’ where brands are enhancing their plant-based products with dairy-free ingredients like oat and almond milk to meet evolving preferences.
Other chocolate confectionery is the leading subcategory, followed by chocolate blocks, and chocolate pieces – unwrapped and wrapped.
Top Companies and Brands
The chocolate confectionery market is penetrated by branded and private label companies. Over the past year, there has been a significant growth in private label penetration.
Aldi is the top company for chocolate confectionery cluster launches in the UK, driven by its brands Dairyfine, Specially Selected, and Choceur over the past year. Recently, Aldi introduced an Easter egg collection in various flavors, offering a combination of innovation with traditional. This range includes chocolates shaped like eggs, bunnies, chicks, and lambs, made from dark, white, milk, and ruby chocolate bases, reflecting the brand’s commitment to creativity and variety in seasonal celebrations.
Claims and Positionings Trends
The top 5 claims in the UK chocolate confectionery market are vegetarian, seasonal – Easter, gluten free, vegan, and palm oil free. Additionally, claims like no additives or preservatives, seasonal – valentines, seasonal – Christmas, limited edition, and plant-based options are growing in popularity. This highlights that consumers are seeking health-conscious options that align with their dietary needs in the market.
Chocolate Confectionery Flavor Trends
In the UK, 1 in 4 consumers are most likely to experiment with flavors in chocolate confectionery. Caramel leads as the top flavor, followed by hazelnut, orange, almond, and salted caramel. 36% of consumers are interested in sweet flavored chocolate. Launches feature a range of sweet flavors such as caramel, nougat, honeycomb, praline, fudge, and toffee, as well as flavor blends with nuts remain attractive. This highlights the appeal of variety and indulgence in the UK chocolate confectionery market.
What’s Next in the Chocolate Confectionery Market Trends in the UK?
In the UK, 3 in 7 consumers indulge in chocolate as a treat, driving demand for indulgent and premium options like truffles, ripples, and bubbles featuring berries and rich fillings such as nougat, caramel, and praline in other chocolate confectionery.
A significant 62% of consumers prefer milk chocolate for its smooth texture. This presents an opportunity for brands to offer smooth texture formats like smooth melts, crispy wafer layers, and decadent truffles to satisfy diverse tastes. Additionally, more than 1 in 4 consumers seek healthier versions of chocolate, highlighting brands to introduce clean-label options that are free from additives, gluten, and lactose. As consumer preferences evolve, brands are likely to continue innovating with products that satisfy both indulgence and health-conscious choices.
This article is based on Innova’s Overview of Chocolate Confectionery in the UK report. This report is available to purchase or with an Innova Reports subscription. Reach out to find out more
