According to a survey released by Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut, 36% of European consumers want chocolate with health benefits and 38% want chocolate with naturally reduced sugar content. The survey results were presented at the International Sweets Fair ISM in Cologne.
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Europeans, Barry Callebaut found, believe that chocolate consumption has a positive effect on psychological and physical wellbeing – 53% of consumers said it was good for morale, 48% said it provides energy. However, only 15% were aware that chocolate consumption is good for memory and only 13% were aware that it is good for the heart and cardiovascular system.
“Chocolate is a natural, delicious and healthy product. It has a low glycaemic index and the cocoa bean contains about 230 substances that potentially have a beneficial effect on our health,” says Hans Vriens, chief innovation officer at Barry Callebaut. “Nevertheless, a large number of people associate eating chocolate with feelings of guilt. At Barry Callebaut, we are working hard on that – unjustified – ‘guilty feeling’ with the development of ‘guilt free’ chocolate.
Barry Callebaut said it is launching innovations to meet the changing consumer demand, including Acticoa, a natural source of polyphenols, and chocolate enriched in dietary fibres to reduce sugar content by up to 40%.
Barry Callebaut has also identified a growing demand for premium chocolate and ethically produced, environmentally friendly chocolate.
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