The organic chocolate market - United Kingdom

1.1 Definition and presentation

The so-called "organic" chocolate is a chocolate labelled "AB" according to European legislation, i.e. containing at least 95% of ingredients coming from organic farming, without chemical additives, and assuring the cocoa beans have not been treated with pesticides or GMOs.

The organic chocolate market can be divided into different product categories:

• Chocolate bars
• Chocolate creams
• Confectionery tablets
• Cocoa powder

The organic cocoa market remains very small relative to the global market; according to researchandmarkets the organic cocoa market represented 0.6% of the total chocolate market in 2017. Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana are the world's primary producers of cocoa. The U.K. market saw an increase in imports with a CAGR of 10% between 2013 and 2017.

The market for organic chocolate remains highly fragmented in the UK; key players include Green & Black's, Newman's Own, Artisan Confections Company, Taza Chocolate, and Alter Eco.

The market is experiencing a trend in increasing demand; this derives primarily from the wider attention given to the health benefits of the product. For example, organic chocolate contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Nevertheless, the market is also facing hurdles; for example, regulation remains  strict on what products are subject to the organic labelling. This limits the possibility for a healthy competitive market environment, ultimately increasing retail prices and decreasing sales. [prnewswire]