Exposé en anglais Sur Le Chocolat

-Chocolate manufacturers produce a range of products from chocolate bars to fudge. Large manufacturers of chocolate products include Cadbury (the world's largest confectionery manufacturer), Guylian, The Hershey Company, Lindt & Sprüngli, Mars, Incorporated, Milka, Neuhaus and Suchard

-Mars Incorporated, a large privately owned U.S. corporation, produces Mars Bar, Milky Way, M&M's, Twix and Snickers. Lindt is known for its truffle balls and Gold Easter Bunnies.

-Food conglomerates Nestlé SA and Kraft Foods both have chocolate brands. Nestlé acquired Rowntree's in 1988 and now market chocolates under their own brand, including Smarties and Kit Kat;

-Kraft Foods through its 1990 acquisition of Jacobs Suchard, now own Milka and Suchard. In February 2010, Kraft also acquired British-based Cadbury

The chocolate industry offers a wide variety of opportunities for the small business owner, weathers economic recession well and is growing despite increased health-consciousness and calorie counting. Growth will be driven by population growth as well as expansion into new markets, product innovation and rising disposable income levels leading to greater purchasing of premium offerings.

Chocolate is wildly popular for individual consumption, gift giving and cooking. Due to the dominance of large-scale production dynasties, franchises and small businesses tend to focus on unique or specialty items or services. Unique chocolates may be from a region famous for a particular technique, baked on-site or offer a different take on tradition, while specialty services tend to focus on gift-packaging or delivery.

Chocolate Leads the Way

One of the primary demand drivers for chocolate and other sweets is consumer taste, and consumers continue to love chocolate! Long a beloved treat in the western world, a recent study in Great Britain showed that 91% of females and 87% of males consume chocolate products. But the taste for chocolate is now expanding into highly populated nations with a growing middle class, such as China and India. Rising disposable incomes and changing tastes will continue to drive growth in the industry overseas, just as improving domestic economic conditions increase sales at home.

The candy and confection industry remained strong through the recent recession, with the chocolate industry in particular having strong sales despite belt tightening. Considered a luxury, chocolate surprised many industry observers with continued sales strength over the last several years. Though people spent less on big ticket items like vacations, consumers refused to give up the little ways they spoil themselves at home. A chocolate bar is often considered an “affordable luxury.”

Profitability for large confection and candy producers is derived from manufacturing and supply chain efficiency, as well as effective marketing. Smaller companies look to offer premium or specialty products. For all companies involved in the chocolate industry, however, rising commodity prices can be cause for concern. Cocoa prices can be exceedingly variable as it is largely grown in developing nations with often unstable political situations. Recent turmoil in the Ivory Coast, the largest producer of cocoa, has caused prices to skyrocket for the beans. Lack of access to modern insecticides

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