Chocolate trends are ever-changing. In the 90s, it was all about mass-market globalisation, with household names like Mars and Cadbury dominating store shelves worldwide.
By the early 2000s, consumer tastes began to shift towards indulgence, initiating the rise of premium chocolate brands. Lindt, Godiva, and Green & Blacks became the new craze.
And now? Wellness and sustainability are taking centre stage. Consumers still crave the smooth indulgence of chocolate, but they’re increasingly choosing options that align with a healthier lifestyle.
What does this mean for chocolate manufacturers and makers? Which trends are shaping the industry today, and what innovations are poised to redefine it over the next decade? Let’s take a closer look.
The Stats
- 40% of UK chocolate fans seek healthier options by limiting harmful ingredients [1]
- 23% choose chocolate products with environmentally friendly claims [2]
- Only 1 in 3 Brits bought chocolate on impulse in store in 2023 – down from 7 in 10 in 2022 [3].
- Luxembourg has the biggest taste for chocolate – eating 27.15 grams per person, per day. The UK ranks 15th with 12.79 grams [4].
Health-Conscious Consumer Preferences
In 2025, its clear people are looking for healthier lifestyle choices. The rising demand for reduced sugar, keto, vegan, and functional chocolates (e.g., protein-enriched, adaptogenic, or nootropic-enhanced products) is at an all-time high.
In fact, the sugar-free chocolate market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% from 2024 to 2030 [5].
The dark chocolate market is also experiencing significant growth in the UK market, with an expected growth rate of 6% between 2024-2029 [6].
Meeting the demand for healthier chocolate products presents unique challenges for manufacturers.
Reformulating recipes to reduce sugar or incorporate functional ingredients requires precise control over alternative sweeteners, as well as the use of non-traditional emulsifiers.
For manufacturers, this means that modular processing lines equipped with adaptable tempering units and mixing systems, will become your best friend.
Sustainability & Ethical Sourcing
Buying ethically produced products is a non-negotiable for many consumers – and this is no less true for chocolate. In the UK alone, consumer spending on ethical products has increased from £17 billion in 1999 to over £141 billion in 2023 [7].
Bean-to-bar models are growing in popularity. Unsure what this means? Think of it as chocolate’s answer to farm-to-table.
This approach means the manufacturer oversees the entire journey – from sourcing raw cocoa beans to crafting the finished bar, ensuring full control over quality, ethics, and flavour.
Brands are now turning to digitally traceable supply chains, integrating blockchain, QR-coded sourcing, and satellite-monitored deforestation controls.
Modular, efficient systems that support low-waste output and circular production practices – including bespoke chocolate mixing systems – are now highly sought after.
Thinking about upping your game? Take a look at what technology Premier Forrester can offer.
Experiential Products
Plain chocolate bars aren’t exciting anymore. Now, it’s all about novelty formats: Chocolate covered fruits and nuts, aerated textures, and intricate designs.
Online retailers like Delli offer small batch, artisanal confectionery and chocolate such as chocolate-coated Medjool dates or bars in exotic flavours like cold brew coffee flavoured or croissant chocolate.
Achieving these products is no easy feat – especially when mainstream manufacturers need to match these more niche products on a massive scale – producing it at high speeds without compromising on accuracy or quality.
Luckily, state-of-the-art machinery exists to handle the heavy lifting.
These include:
- Custom Chocolate Moulds: Bespoke moulds allow manufacturers to create unique shapes and textures for visually distinctive, premium chocolates.
- Depositing Systems: Precision depositing systems, including inclusion depositors, enable accurate portion control and consistent filling, crucial for high-speed production lines and complex multi-layered or filled products.
- Decorating Systems: Advanced decorating systems automate intricate design work – such as drizzles, sprays, or layered inclusions – enhancing visual appeal and enabling scalable production of artisan-style chocolates.
Digital-First Purchasing Behaviour
There’s no escaping the fact that we live in the digital age. Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have become powerful drivers of consumer behaviour. Viral food trends can emerge overnight, sparking huge demand for niche products.
Let’s use an example. After a short video was posted via TikTok in 2023 showcasing the “Can’t Get Knafeh of It” pistachio chocolate bar by Dubai’s Fix Dessert Chocolatier, demand for pistachios shot up. In fact, it led to a 35% increase in pistachio prices, rising from $7.65 to $10.30 per pound within a year [8].
With social media influence taking the world by storm, product development cycles must move faster than ever before, with the ability to test, adapt, and launch trending concepts in record time. It also places new demand on production lines – requiring agile, small-batch equipment capable of rapid changeovers and minimal downtime.
AI is proving to be a valuable tool in keeping up with these evolving trends. There are now AI technologies with algorithms to fine-tune recipes for optimal taste, texture, and nutritional balance, while also enabling real-time quality control.
Sound too good to be true? Read our recent blog on AI and artistry for more information.
Supply Chain Volatility & Raw Material Alternatives
The global cocoa supply chain is under mounting pressure from climate change, geopolitical instability, and surging global demand.
While manufacturers may invest heavily in optimising their production lines, these efforts risk being undermined if the broader supply chain remains fragile.
Key cocoa-producing regions like Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are experiencing lower yields and greater uncertainty, prompting manufacturers to seek both short-term solutions and long-term sustainability strategies. In Ghana alone, cocoa production has seen a significant drop. In the 2023/24 season, output fell to below 550,000 metric tons, marking a two-decade low.
It’s critical that manufacturers have the tools to adapt to these pressing conditions. They can do this by focusing on:
- Flexible Formulations: Carob, jackfruit seed flour, and upcycled fruit powders must be integrated without compromising on tempering behaviour or viscosity.
- Versatile Machinery: Equipment must handle a broad range of ingredient properties – such as varying particle sizes and flow characteristics – while maintaining consistency and output efficiency.
- Enhanced QA Systems: Quality assurance processes must adapt to support ingredient variability, ensuring uniform texture, flavour, and compliance across multi-origin and alternative formulations.
Preparing for the Future of Chocolate
The chocolate industry is in the midst of a dynamic transformation – driven by shifting consumer values, technological innovation, and supply chain challenges. From the rise of health-focused and ethically sourced products to the influence of social media and AI, the pressure is on manufacturers to stay agile, informed, and future-ready.
For those willing to adapt, the opportunities are immense. With the right combination of flexible machinery, intelligent systems, and forward-thinking strategy, manufacturers can not only keep pace but also lead the way in shaping the next era of chocolate innovation.
For more information on ways you can stay agile, contact us today.
Sources:
[1] https://www.innovamarketinsights.com/trends/chocolate-confectionery-trends-in-the-uk/
[2] https://www.innovamarketinsights.com/trends/chocolate-confectionery-trends-in-the-uk/
[3] https://www.mintel.com/insights/food-and-drink/which-countries-eat-most-chocolate/
[4] https://www.investopedia.com/rising-cocoa-prices-on-the-cost-of-sweets-8756159
[5] https://chocolateaffairsmagazine.com/the-rise-of-sugar-free-chocolate/
[6] https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/uk-chocolate-market
[7] https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/sites/default/files/media-file/2023-12/EC-Markets-report-2023-web-final2.pdf?
[8] https://www.ft.com/content/1844d9c9-e4a0-486d-b09c-53e780eff4e1
