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Summary of our market study
The global chocolate market, with a particular focus on the organic and fair trade segments, has shown notable growth trends. In 2020, the organic chocolate market was valued at $824.1 million, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% between 2021 and 2028. Despite a drop in confectionery demand during the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA, the market proved resilient, with boxed chocolate holding over 62% of market share in 2020. The German market has seen sales of Fairtrade chocolate soar, with an increase of 93.11% in 2022. In 2022, 36.7% of Fairtrade chocolate sold in Germany was also certified organic, suggesting a consumer preference for ethically and sustainably produced chocolate. German foreign trade in chocolate reflects this healthy market, with exports totalling 5.17 billion euros in 2022, an increase of 36%, while imports also rose by around 24% over the same period.
Growth and trends in the German chocolate market
The German chocolate market is experiencing a gentle surge in consumer interest, particularly in sustainable and ethical products. The organic chocolate sector, for example, has seen a marked increase in demand, with sales growing steadily. More specifically, the organic chocolate market, valued at between $800 and $850 million in 2020, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 6.5% to 7% between 2021 and 2028. This upward trend is driven by a growing preference for healthy options and a shift in consumer behavior towards environmentally-friendly purchasing decisions. Germany's role as Europe's leading chocolate market is underlined by its substantial annual growth, which was over 10% in 2020. What's more, the market is set to grow by around 3% a year until 2025. This increase is particularly noticeable in the organic chocolate segment, as German consumers increasingly value products that meet both health and environmental standards. Fair-trade chocolate is also enjoying great popularity in Germany, with a compound annual growth rate of between 11% and 12% observed in 2021. With consumers increasingly sensitive to fair trade practices and organic quality, the synergy between these two segments is flourishing.
Indeed, more than a third of fair trade chocolate products sold in Germany in 2022 were of organic quality, underlining consumers' preference for ethically-produced, environmentally-friendly chocolates. In terms of consumption habits, a significant proportion of Germans - between 90 and 92% - enjoy chocolate. Preferences vary, but overall, taste remains the main factor in purchasing decisions, followed by price and ingredients. Interestingly, almost half of consumers consider the Fairtrade label an important attribute when choosing chocolate, illustrating the value placed on ethical production practices. As far as chocolate production is concerned, Germany has seen growth in various chocolate product categories. In particular, production of filled chocolate bars rose from 320 to 330 tonnes, and from 370 to 375 tonnes in 2021. Although there was a slight decline in other chocolate product categories, such as unfilled chocolates, the general trend in the industry points to an upward trend in production.although there has been a slight decline in other chocolate product categories such as unfilled chocolates, the general trend in the industry indicates growth and a sustained appetite for chocolate varieties that prioritize sustainability and ethical sourcing.
Main competitors in the organic chocolate sector
The chocolate industry is not only rich in flavors, it's also diverse in its range of market players, each bringing something unique to the table. Among the various brands that have established a notable presence in the organic and fair trade chocolate segment, a few have distinguished themselves by responding to growing consumer demand for ethical, environmentally-friendly options.
- Rapunzel has emerged as a leading figure, recognized for its commitment to organic farming practices that prioritize sustainability. The company's philosophy is not limited to chocolate, but extends to a wide range of organic products, illustrating its commitment to natural quality.
- Vivani, another pioneer in this field, offers an exquisite selection of organic chocolates that have won over consumers' palates. Attention to the purity of ingredients and the quality of craftsmanship has made their chocolates not just a treat, but an experience.
Zotter stands out for its innovative approach to chocolate making, offering a plethora of unique flavor combinations that push the boundaries of conventional chocolate treats. Its commitment to organic ingredients and Fairtrade certification aligns with current consumer trends favoring responsible consumption. - iChoc caters for vegan consumers, ensuring that the joys of chocolate are accessible to all, whatever their dietary preferences. Its plant-based chocolates have carved out a place for themselves within the vegan community, proving that pleasure can be cruelty-free.
- Veganz stands out not only for its vegan offering, but also for its plant-based philosophy, which extends to its entire product range. Their vision of a sustainable future is well reflected in their chocolate products, which combine pleasure with planet-friendly principles.
These brands, along with other smaller competitors, make up a dynamic and competitive sector of the chocolate market, where organic and sustainable practices are just as crucial as taste and pleasure. As consumer awareness grows, these companies are set to play a key role in the evolution of chocolate consumption.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Scope of the study
The market for chocolate and chocolate factories is an important part of the food industry and is experiencing continuous growth. Chocolate is a sweet delicacy, usually available in the form of bars or chocolates, made from cocoa, sugar and often milk.
The chocolate industry is a billion-dollar business and is expected to continue growing in the coming years. During the forecast period from 2021 to 2028, the overall global chocolate market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% .
Europe occupies a leading role for the sales of this industry. The CAGR for chocolate in Europe was around 10.7% between 2015 and 2020 and will continue to grow. For the same period, the market in Germany had an annual market growth of 12.15% and forecasts show a further market growth of 3.09% per year until 2025.
The organic chocolate market in Germany has experienced strong growth in recent years.
Sales of Fairtrade chocolate in Germany alone grew at a CAGR of 11.62% between 2011 and 2021. Due to current trends and a change in consumer behavior, further growth is expected for organic chocolate.
The organic chocolate market in Germany is highly competitive. Many companies have recognized the benefits of organic products and are trying to gain a foothold in this market. The largest companies in this segment are Rapunzel, Vivani, Zotter, iChoc and Veganz. However, there are also many smaller companies that are successfully operating in the organic chocolate market.
More and more consumers are attaching importance to healthy nutrition and sustainably produced chocolate. Discover not only the current trends in the industry in our market analysis, but also valuable insights for your company
1.2 Globally growing market
The global organic chocolate market was worth $***.* million in **** and is expected to grow at a CAGR of *.*% from **** to ****. The main reasons for this are the increasing preference for healthy food and various marketing and promotional activities by manufacturers. However, the COVID-** pandemic has affected the market and weakened consumers' ...
1.3 Fairtrade chocolate popular in Germany
Fairtrade chocolate and organic chocolate are two different concepts within the chocolate industry, both aiming at sustainability, social responsibility and environmental protection. Although they have different certifications and focuses, they complement each other in many ways and together can contribute to more ethical and environmentally friendly chocolate production.
Fairtrade chocolate refers ...
1.4 Good development of foreign trade
Foreign trade in chocolate: a sweet success
In ****, German exports of chocolate totaled *.** billion euros. This value increased continuously over the years and reached *.** billion euros in ****. This represents an increase of about **% within seven years. These figures show that the chocolate industry has grown worldwide and successfully placed its products ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 The German organic consumer
More and more people prefer food from organic sources: According to their own data, ** percent of respondents now buy more organic food than products without an organic label. This is an increase of ** percentage points compared to ****. In the same period, the proportion of those who do not buy organic products ...
2.2 The chocolate consumption
s **% of Germans like to eat chocolate. The popularity of chocolate is slightly higher among older respondents (***). **% of chocolate lovers buy chocolate for their own use several times a month, while **% do so once a month, **% once a week, *% several times a week and *% daily.
Purchase frequency of chocolate for own ...
2.3 The most popular chocolate varieties of the Germans
The most popular chocolate varieties of the Germans
Germans' most popular types of chocolate Germany, ****, in % Source: ****
Milk chocolate is probably the best-known and most frequently consumed type of chocolate in Germany. It consists mainly of cocoa mass, cocoa butter, sugar and milk powder. The milk content gives the chocolate a ...
2.4 Trend product vegan chocolate
Chocolate manufacturer EcoFinia presented its first organic vegan chocolate line, iChoc, in ****. The range consists of eight varieties and is exported to over ** countries. Half of EcoFinia's sales come from vegan chocolate. Vegan chocolate saves CO*, energy, land area and water compared to milk chocolate. According to Nielsen, vegan products already ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Value chain and cost structure
The organic chocolate value chain is a process that aims to produce high-quality chocolate products in an environmentally friendly and ethical manner. Compared to conventional chocolate production, the organic chocolate value chain places particular emphasis on sustainability, fair working conditions and the protection of natural resources.
The first step in the ...
3.2 Distribution channels of organic products
Organic products are offered through various distribution channels. In ****, the preferred distribution channels for organic products were distributed as follows: Supermarkets, such as Rewe and Edeka, were the preferred place to buy organic products with **%. Discounters such as Aldi, Lidl and Penny followed with **%. Weekly markets were preferred by **% of shoppers, ...
3.3 Sustainability seals at a glance
Organic seals are official labels that distinguish products from organic farming. They guarantee that the products have been produced under certain ecological and social standards. These include the absence of synthetic chemical pesticides and genetic engineering and the conservation of natural resources. The organic seal allows consumers to consciously choose sustainable ...
3.4 A highly fragmented market
The market for chocolate is highly competitive and includes a number of players. In addition to large, globally active companies such as Nestle, Lindt and Ferrero, there are a number of small manufacturers, most of which operate more locally.
With the help of a survey, Kantar has identified the best-known brands ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Price development
Consumer price index for individual consumption of chocolate bars Germany, **** - ****, Index Source: ****
the consumer price index (***) is a significant tool for tracking the development of the cost of living over time. It measures the average price change of goods and services purchased by households for consumption purposes.
Looking at the ...
4.2 The product ranges with organic chocolate
The production of chocolate and chocolate products in Germany has developed differently in different product groups in the years **** to ****. Overall, however, production shows an increase in almost all groups.
For filled bars and bars, production increased from ***.** tons in **** to ***.** tons in **** and is estimated at ***.** tons in ****. The production ...
4.3 A highly fragmented market
The market for (***) chocolate is highly competitive and includes some companies. The following table shows some companies for organic chocolate, as well as companies that offer vegan and organic products:
5 Regulations
5.1 Supply Chain Act
The Supply Chain Act: Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains
The Supply Chain Act is a law passed in Germany that requires companies to ensure compliance with human rights and environmental standards along their supply chains. It initially affects companies with *,*** or more employees and is set to apply to those ...
5.2 Regulation for cocoa and chocolate products
In accordance with Directive ****/**/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, the Cocoa Regulation sets out the requirements that must be met for a product to be designated as a cocoa or chocolate product for human consumption. The regulation sets minimum requirements for the content of cocoa solids, milk ...
5.3
6 Positioning of the players
6.1 Segmentation of the players
Company segmentation in the chocolate industry
The chocolate industry is a multi-faceted market that can be divided into different segments. These include vegan chocolate, organic chocolate, fair trade chocolate and conventional chocolate. In recent years, the range of more sustainable and ethical chocolate products in particular has increased significantly.
It is ...
- Alnatura
- Veganz Group AG
- Rapunzel
- Naturata AG
- GEPA
- dennree GmbH
- Original Food GmbH
- PACCARI
- EcoFinia GmbH
List of charts presented in this market study
- Global organic chocolate market
- Fairtrade chocolate sales
- Organic share of Fairtrade-labeled chocolate in total Fairtrade chocolate sales
- Foreign trade with chocolate
- Survey: Development of the percentage of organic products purchased
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