Market Trends of Premium Chocolate Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Premium Chocolate Market according to our research experts:
Key Players Investing in Advertising to Increase Sales
The premium chocolate industry has seen a significant shift over the past few years. With the growing importance of social media in a shopper's purchase journey, companies are evolving and stepping up their advertising and endorsement strategies across different distribution channels to garner consumer attention. Celebrity endorsements help increase brand awareness, trust, and familiarity, which are important variables in the decision-making process. Consumers feel more inclined toward a brand if its products are promoted by a celebrity they admire or relate to.
Premium chocolate companies invest a significant amount in product endorsements and advertisements. For instance, Mondelez’s advertising expense was USD 1,564 million in 2021, USD 1,376 million in 2020, and USD 1,208 million in 2019, reflecting a significant strategic investment toward advertisements. Similarly, Hershey’s advertising expenses totaled USD 511,798 in 2021, USD 516,936 in 2020, and USD 513,302 in 2019. In May 2021, the Belgian chocolate maker Godiva Chocolatier launched a new global marketing campaign, "GODIVA is Chocolate," with actor Chris Evans as the new face of the campaign. The brand aims to market its products as a premium treat with portion control sizes, sharing packages, on-the-go convenient formats, and gift boxes for special occasions. Hence, such aggressive marketing tactics employed by major players are boosting the growth of the premium chocolate market.
Europe Remains the Largest Market
The trend of premium textured chocolate, added with grains or cereals, is growing among chocolate consumers in the European region. Packaging is also playing an important role, as consumers are selecting carefully packed premium chocolate gifts with ‘high offering value.’ The supermarkets, such as Aldi and Lidl in Germany, also offer their premium brands of chocolate. For instance, Aldo offers Moser-Roth premium chocolates to cater to the growing demand for the products in the country. Consumers opt for premium chocolates, especially from supermarkets, as they offer a unique addition to the assortment, attractive shelves, ready packaging, in-store promotions, and consistent quality of chocolates. The number of private-label chocolatiers in the region is also growing, with more artisanal and specialized products (such as House of Dorchester) being launched to meet consumers’ demand in the premium chocolate market. Such companies offer premium chocolates as gifts. This factor is resulting in more people purchasing these products as luxury presents for gifting on special occasions. Hence, due to the growing demand for premium chocolates, a large number of international brands are entering the European market. For instance, in 2021, Ferrero Rocher entered the premium chocolate bars category in the United Kingdom.
