{"id":11907,"date":"2025-05-29T10:02:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T08:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itacpro.develacq.startgoconnection.es\/?p=11907"},"modified":"2025-05-29T12:15:54","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T10:15:54","slug":"confectionery-trends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.itac-professional.com\/en\/blog\/confectionery-trends\/","title":{"rendered":"Chocolate confectionery trends"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chocolate confectionery products are usually consumed as a snack. Within this category there are a myriad of possibilities, with a <\/span>wide range of products, ingredients and possible combinations. In this article we go over the <\/span>chocolate confectionery trends that are driving innovation in this segment and <\/span>how nuts are influencing new product launches.<\/b><\/p>\n

In general, in addition to, naturally, chocolate, these foods contain <\/span>sweet sugar-based ingredients<\/b>, as well as different types of fruits, nuts, gums or ice creams.<\/span><\/p>\n

The confectionery and baked goods market for chocolate is immensely popular and its production and business volume is so significant that it is considered to be an independent food industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Different innovative food industry trends<\/span><\/a>\u00a0are currently<\/span> emerging in chocolate confectionery, with the most important being <\/span>plant-based\/vegan chocolates<\/b>, <\/span>innovative textures<\/b> and what is known as <\/span>healthy indulgence<\/b>, which is the search of a product that combines being pleasurable to the palate and healthier, more nutritious ingredients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, the <\/span>addition of oranges, citrus fruits and nuts\u00a0is one of the most <\/span>widespread solutions in the chocolate confectioner industry when the goal is to increase the nutritional value of the product and bolster its quality in the eye of the consumer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Below is an index of trends that will be addressed in this article:<\/p>\n

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  1. Vegan or plant-based chocolates<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Healthy indulgence<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Innovative chocolate textures<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Low sugar content<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Clean label<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Functional foods: products that bolster immunity<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Premium products<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    \"chocolate<\/p>\n

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    The golden age of nuts<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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    Innovation in chocolate confectionery products is trending because of the <\/span>higher consumer demand for the development of innovative, healthy and more sustainable products. Nuts offer manufacturers benefits across all three of these aspects. Furthermore, nuts such as walnuts or almonds<\/a> and their derivatives are ingredients that perfectly combine with chocolate, providing it with a myriad of <\/span>nutritional and sensorial benefits.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

    For example, a <\/span>recent study by Innova Market Insights presented during the World Confectionery Conference states that in the past year, 54% confectionery product consumers have sought healthier alternatives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Consumers no longer settle for any chocolate confectionery product; instead, they <\/span>look for products that are better for them and the planet.<\/b><\/p>\n

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    The four chocolate confectionery trends leading the market<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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    1. Vegan or plant-based chocolates<\/h3>\n

    The <\/span>rising popularity of vegan and plant-based diets, which has become particularly noticeable during the last few years, <\/span>is influencing new launches in the chocolate confectionery industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Nowadays, with the goal of catering to the tastes, requirements and needs of a broad segment of consumers, chocolate manufacturers are betting on<\/span> milk-free products, or products made with<\/span> dairy alternatives <\/b>such as <\/span>milks or beverages based on nuts <\/b>such as almonds or nuts.<\/span><\/p>\n

    It is important to keep in mind that in markets such as the United Kingdom, according to data provided by Mintel, <\/span>8 out of 10 chocolate consumers still prefer milk chocolate<\/b> \u2013 a fact that will continue to drive the launch of vegan chocolates, with many of those profiles joining the lactose-free chocolate trend within the next few years.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The data all but confirms this new trend. In fact, the latest research by Innova Market Insights points to a 2% increase in new product launches in this segment between 2015 and 2020, with a rise of up to 17% in new vegan launches.<\/p>\n

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    You might be interested in<\/span><\/i> chocolates with nuts and dried fruit: a mixture of flavours and textures.<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

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    2. Healthy indulgence<\/h3>\n

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    The <\/span>concept of a healthy diet has changed significantly during the last few years. Traditionally, foods such as <\/span>sweets and snacks were considered to <\/span>do nothing but offer empty calories, contributing to overweightness and increasing the risk of suffering from a number of ailments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Today, there is much talk about <\/span>healthy indulgence<\/b> \u2013 a concept that understands that we don\u2019t need to <\/span>deprive ourselves from the pleasure of enjoying a shake or a good confectionery product, but rather <\/span>always consume them in the right measure and attempting to find a balance in its composition and ingredients. According to a report by Fona International, approximately 80% of consumers consider that eating healthy is a matter of self-control rather than one of restrictions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \"healthy<\/p>\n

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    It is in this context that <\/span>chocolate confectionery that includes protein and low-sugar claims <\/b>gains importance, with <\/span>nuts such as walnuts and peanuts, as well as their derivatives such as flours, powders and pastes<\/b>, being among the <\/span>most<\/b> successful ingredients<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    3. Innovative chocolate textures<\/h3>\n

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    The <\/span>sensory satisfaction offered by texture <\/b>is nowadays a <\/span>paramount factor in the confectionery and baked goods industry. Those products that manage to <\/span>increase the sensory satisfaction resulting from the texture, sound, visual aspect and taste become more attractive to both companies and consumers.\u00a0<\/span>
    \nSome areas where <\/span>texture-related innovation <\/b>is focused are<\/span> caramel or gum toppings<\/b>, but also with increasing regularity in ingredients such as <\/span>    nut paste<\/a> or dressings with nuts<\/b> in new and attractive visual formats.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    You might be interested in: <\/strong>Download our nut paste catalogue for the industry<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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    4. Low sugar content<\/h3>\n

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    Another trend in chocolate confectionery is <\/span>low-sugar formulations<\/b>, implementing innovative solutions that allow sugar to be reduced by adding extracts from an assortment of fruits: strawberry, cherry, watermelon, lemon, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \"cta<\/h2>\n

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    DO YOU WORK AT THE FOOD INDUSTRY? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ALMONDS, PEANUTS OR NUT PASTES?<\/h4>\n

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    \"CONTACT<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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    Other rising trends in confectionery<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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    Clean label<\/h3>\n

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    Consumers no longer<\/span> settle for <\/span>knowing what ingredients a product is made of, but instead, <\/span>they demand to know the origin and traceability of each one of them. For this reason, chocolate snacks with <\/span>transparent ingredients known by the consumers <\/b>are also trending, and it is an important claim when encouraging consumers to acquire them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Functional foods: products that bolster immunity<\/h3>\n

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    Covid 19 has elicited another need among consumers: eating foods that <\/span>bolster their immune system<\/b> \u2013 mostly vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. This has led to another rising trend: <\/span>creating formulations that are rich in these components.<\/b><\/p>\n

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    An opportunity for premium products<\/h3>\n

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    In an increasingly competitive market where consumers seek top quality in their products, <\/span>the trend toward premium products in chocolate confectionery is gaining importance.<\/p>\n

    In this regard, <\/span>chocolates that include nuts such as walnuts or almonds have great chances of attaining a competitive advantage, due to the excellent image of these products among consumers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \"confectionery\"<\/p>\n

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    Broadly speaking, <\/span>the addition of nuts such as almonds<\/a>, walnuts, peanuts<\/a> and pistachios can be a great asset for these chocolate confectionery trends. <\/b>The reasons for this are many and conclusive: they help create new and surprising textures, they increase the transparency of the formulations, they reinforce the premium aspect of the products and they favour a healthier indulgence, since they bolster protein claims \u2013 a fact that is in high demand.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Are you thinking of adding nuts to a new development for the confectionery industry? At <\/span>Itac Professional<\/b>, <\/span>the B2B brand of Importaco Group, we are nut manufacturerst<\/a> the food industry<\/a> with a long track-record working specifically in the <\/span>confectionery segment.<\/p>\n

    Tell us more<\/span><\/a> about your project and needs and we will advise you so that you can accomplish your goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \"almond<\/h2>\n

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    Discover the latest innovations with almonds and peanuts in new product developments<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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    \"\u00a0download<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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    Would you like to know more about <\/span>Itac Professional, Importaco’s B2B brand<\/b>? Discover in this video how we work and everything we have to offer you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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