Nation of Chocoholics: Eight million Britons eat chocolate every day | mint (2024)

As consumers across the country get ready to open their Easter eggs and bunnies this weekend,latest research from Mintelin the UK chocolate confectionery market shows that almost one in six (16%) Britons, equivalent to around eight million people, eat chocolate every day and a similar number (17%) eat chocolate four to six times a week.

Only a small minority (5%) of Brits say they never eat chocolate, proving that chocolate is still one of Britain's favorite treats.

Dark milk chocolate is the country's absolute favorite chocolate bar and is eaten by three-quarters (73%) of UK chocolatiers. Filled chocolate (e.g. with caramel) is also very popular, eaten by about half (49%) of chocolate consumers and flavored (e.g. orange flavored, ginger or with nuts or raisins) by 47%. Meanwhile, dark chocolate remains a relatively niche choice, eaten by less than two in five (37%) chocolate consumers, as is regular white (30%).

And a daily chocolate fix appears to be especially popular with young consumers, aged between 25 and 34, with nearly a quarter (22%) of them eating chocolate daily (compared to an average of 16%).

In addition, Londoners are significantly more likely to consume chocolate every day, with up to 26% of consumers living in London, compared to 12% of those living in the South East and East Anglia, 16% in the South West and Wales, 15% in the East and West Midlands, 15% in the North West, 11% in Yorkshire and Humberside and 17% in the North and Scotland.

Richard Ford, Senior Food and Drink Analyst at Mintel, said:

“From the Aztecs to Willie Wonka, both fact and fiction, cocoa and chocolate have held a special place in people's hearts throughout the ages. That is no less true today - evidenced by the fact that only a small minority of the British says she never eats chocolate. Its status as a personal indulgence remains an ingrained part of consumers' diets, despite recent attention to the role of high-fat and high-sugar foods in the country's weight gain."

And it looks like there's another good reason to indulge in chocolate this year. Recent Mintel research shows a sweet 120% growth in the number of new chocolate products launched with an ethical claim, such as Fairtrade certification, between 2012 and 2013. Overall, of all new chocolate product launches, the proportion of launches with ethical requirements . skyrocketed to 17% in 2013 from just 4% in 2010.

The generosity of UK consumers is also highlighted when it comes to buying chocolate as a gift, with the recipient's tastes and preferences driving 54% of consumer decisions. However, the numbers vary by gender, with women (58%) more likely to buy a brand with the recipient's taste in mind compared to 49% of men.

Regarding the general frequency of chocolate consumption, there is little difference between men and women (16% of men versus 15% of women). But when it comes to chocolate bars, preferences are clearly different. For example, women are more likely (50% of women vs. 44% of men) to eat flavored chocolate bars, while men are more likely to have eaten regular white chocolate bars (32% of men vs. 27% of women). .

Nation of Chocoholics: Eight million Britons eat chocolate every day | mint (2024)

FAQs

Nation of Chocoholics: Eight million Britons eat chocolate every day | mint? ›

As consumers around the country are poised to crack open their Easter eggs and bunnies this weekend, latest research by Mintel on the chocolate confectionery market in the UK shows that nearly one in six (16%) Brits, equating to around eight million people, eat chocolate every day, and a similar number (17%) do so four ...

How much chocolate does the average British person eat every day? ›

In Britain we eat an estimated 660,900 tonnes of chocolate a year, an average of 11kg per person per year. This equates to about 3 bars a week.

Which European country eats the most chocolate per capita? ›

Switzerland is renowned for its exceptional chocolate. From all of those prism-shaped Toblerone bars in airport duty free shops across the world to the more local Cailler and Frey varieties, it comes as little surprise that Swiss people consume the most chocolate per capita of any country worldwide.

Which country eats the most chocolate per person? ›

Switzerland is the country that is responsible for the most amount of chocolate consumed per capita. Even though there are certainly countries across the globe that consume more total chocolate than Switzerland, Switzerland consumes the most chocolate per person.

How many people eat chocolate every day? ›

It is estimated that currently 1 billion people eat chocolate every day.

How many chocolate bars will the average Brit eat in their lifetime? ›

We wouldn't want to feel that we had overdone consuming the sweet lovely stuff too much. Well, a recent survey conducted by the British Heart Foundation showed just how much the average British adult consumes in a lifetime. The number is…. 7,560 or on average 1 to 8 chocolate bars per person per week on average.

How much chocolate does the average US citizen eat in a year? ›

Speaking of bonbons, the most recent research suggests that the average American eats roughly 19.8 pounds of chocolate per year, or about 3 bars of chocolate per week.

Who eats more chocolate male or female? ›

Women prefer to eat chocolate more than men. While preference among women stands at 91%, for men it is 87%.

What continent consumes the most chocolate in the world? ›

The countries with the highest per-capita chocolate consumption are in Europe. The world's average chocolate consumption amounts to an estimated 0.9 kg per capita per year .

What age group eats the most chocolate in USA? ›

Chocolate consumption is particularly high among the supposedly more health-conscious generation: the 25 to 34-year-olds. In this age group, a whopping 34% say they eat chocolate every day. By contrast, only 8% of 65-plus consumers replicate that daily habit.

Which holiday sells the most chocolate in the US? ›

The seasonal holidays

Seasonal chocolate has the farthest reach on Easter, where it can be found in 46.1 percent of all U.S. households. The overall reach of seasonal non-chocolate products is smaller than that of seasonal chocolate.

Why do the Swiss eat so much chocolate? ›

Today, Swiss consumers eat more than 23 pounds of the country's most famous product per year. There's another factor to Switzerland's high chocolate consumption: wealth. (Which may also explain the correlation with Nobel prizes.) Few cocoa-producing countries are big chocolate consumers, because chocolate is a luxury.

Is it OK if I eat chocolate everyday? ›

Excessive consumption of anything is harmful to health, whether it is veggies or chocolate. One must not eat more than 30 to 60 grams of chocolate in a day. Consuming too much chocolate will increase your daily calorie count leading to weight gain and other issues.

Is it okay to eat a piece of chocolate everyday? ›

How much chocolate can I eat a day? Experts say the recommended “dose” is approximately 1 to 2 ounces or 30-60g. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories.

Why do I eat chocolate everyday? ›

Eating chocolate every day doesn't sound like the best way to prevent diabetes, but studies have shown healthy amounts of dark chocolate rich in cacao could actually improve how the body metabolizes glucose when eaten as part of a healthy diet.

How much do Brits spend on chocolate? ›

The average Brit spends more than £325 on chocolate every year – and their favourite chocolate is Dairy Milk, according to a survey. It also found nearly three in five Brits (59%) consider chocolate an essential part of their weekly shop, while almost half (46%) said they eat chocolate at least once a day.

Can you eat 100 percent chocolate? ›

What to Do with 100% Dark Chocolate. Eat it just as it is, of course! You can taste the flavors from the cacao bean, and since it's such a decadent treat, you won't need much. Baking is another good use for 100 percent dark chocolate.

Is it normal to eat an entire bar of chocolate? ›

But it does mean that sometimes a giant dose of chocolate is permissible, even according to nutritionists. "If you hardly ever do it and you feel like indulging yourself on a chocolate or ice cream very, very occasionally, it's not going to do you any harm," says Crowe.

What type of chocolate do Americans eat the most? ›

This statistic shows the brands of chocolate and other candy eaten most often in the United States in 2020. The data has been calculated by Statista based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS). According to this statistic, 48.06 million Americans consumed Snickers (Chocolate) in 2020.

How much chocolate do the average European and American eat per year? ›

Americans on average eat nearly 11 kilos of those per person a year, or 24 ¼ pounds, compared with the Western European average of 4 kilos, he said.

How much chocolate does the average German eat a year? ›

The average Brit, Swiss or German citizen will each eat around 24 pounds of chocolate a year. This means that they eat about as much chocolate every year as seafood. How much does US love chocolates?

What is the most delicious chocolate in the world? ›

Teuscher. Named the Best Chocolate in the World by National Geographic Magazine, Teuscher delivers a divine chocolate experience resulting from years of chocolate passion and tradition.

What is the most expensive chocolate brand? ›

Answer: To'ak's Art Series Guayasamín chocolate and House of Knipschildt's La Madeline au Truffe are some of the most expensive gourmet chocolates to try. DeLafée of Switzerland also offers a DeLafée Gold Chocolate Box that comes with an actual antique Swiss gold coin making it a royal indulgence.

What are the effects of chocolate on a woman? ›

Increases blood flow to sexual organs

For both men and women, chocolate possess L-arginine,an amino acid which can be an effective natural sex enhancer. It works by promoting the amount of blood flow and nitric oxide to your sexual organs and also increases sensation, desire and satisfaction.

Why do girls like sweets more than guys? ›

Women naturally have lower levels of serotonin in their brains than men do, which could account for their desire to eat sweet sugary foods since eating carbs leads to feeling happier. This theory would also explain why so many “comfort foods” consist of starches, breads, candies, and sweets.

What is consumed more coffee or chocolate? ›

Okay… maybe not so much more important, but to the 1 billion people who enjoy chocolate every day and the 2.25 billion cups of coffee consumed, by a lot of those same people, they would agree that coffee and chocolate are vital in our every day lives.

What state has the most chocolate? ›

New York takes the crown of the chocolate empire at No. 1 overall and in the Access category. The city is swimming in chocolate delicacies, being home to over 100 chocolate shops and the most chocolate manufacturers in the country.

What country sells the most chocolate? ›

According to Statista.com, Belgium exports the most chocolate worldwide as of 2021. This could come as no surprise, as some of the most widely used brands of chocolate are based in Belgium or owned by Belgium companies. A surprise to many would be countries like Poland or Canada in the top 5.

What country grows the most chocolate? ›

In the 2021/2022 cocoa season, around 4.9 million tonnes of cocoa were produced worldwide. Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana are by far the two largest cocoa growing countries, accounting for over 60 % of global cocoa production, followed by Ecuador with 7 %.

What percent of Americans don't like chocolate? ›

Did you know that up to 19% of the US population doesn't like chocolate?

Is chocolate the most addictive junk food? ›

Have you ever wondered why that is? According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, some ultra-processed foods can be just as addictive as alcohol and cigarettes. The worst offenders are pizza, chocolate, potato chips, cookies, ice cream, french fries, and cheeseburgers.

What is America's number one chocolate? ›

1. The Hershey Company. Easily one of the better-known chocolate companies in America, Hershey's is in almost every store throughout the US. The company produces everything from cookies and syrups to cakes and milkshakes, so there's no shortage of ways to get your chocolate fix.

Which American city is famous for chocolate? ›

Hershey, Pennsylvania

It's just about impossible to talk about candy in the US without talking about Hershey — especially when talking about chocolate.

What candy bar sells the most in the United States? ›

1. Snickers. Snickers is not only best-selling candy bar in the U.S., it's also the best-selling worldwide. The Snickers bar, made by Mars Inc., was named after the Mars family's favorite horse.

What is the number one candy in the United States? ›

Top-selling chocolates and sweets. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the No. 1 selling candy brand in the United States, consisting of white fudge, milk, or dark chocolate cups filled with peanut butter. They were invented by H.B. Reese after he founded the H. B. Reese Candy Company in 1923.

Which country is known as land of chocolate? ›

Switzerland: the land of milk chocolate.

Why is chocolate so much better in Europe? ›

European chocolates, with their smoother, richer flavor, use European butter and cream, which has a higher fat content. To accentuate the smoothness of the chocolates, Europe also uses more cocoa butter, further accentuating the difference in taste.

Why do Germans eat so much chocolate? ›

Chocolate is one of the most popular flavors in the world, and in Germany there is no exception. Chocolate is so loved in Germany that it is engrained into the culture. Children grow up enjoying it more than any other candy. Chocolate is also part of many traditions and celebrations.

What is the healthiest way to eat chocolate? ›

Go for a dark chocolate or a dark coconut milk chocolate if you're looking to maximize health benefits— it's not just a lower cacao content that makes a milk chocolate less good for you. The proteins in animal milk bind to the antioxidants in chocolate, making them unavailable for your body to use.

What is the safest chocolate to eat? ›

Consumer Reports said safer choices include Mast Organic dark chocolate, Taza chocolate, Ghiardelli and Valrhona. “There are vegan 'milk chocolates' which would dilute the amount of cacao, and therefore theoretically lead and cadmium you would be taking in,” said Hunnes.

What happens when you stop eating chocolate everyday? ›

The symptoms of chocolate addiction withdrawal include intense cravings for sweet foods, carbohydrate cravings, increased irritability, depressed mood, headaches, lack of energy, and exhaustion. Cutting back on chocolate may affect a person by causing withdrawal symptoms that may be uncomfortable.

Should you have chocolate before bed? ›

Don't Eat: Chocolate

Even though chocolate doesn't contain much of the stuff, even a little caffeine can disturb or halt the sleep-inducing chemical processes going on in your brain and body before bedtime, he says.

How much chocolate is too much chocolate? ›

Too much chocolate, 85 bars to be exact, results in theobromine poisoning which will give you symptoms similar to that of a caffeine overdose – trembling, excessive sweating and severe headaches. In some cases, consuming 70g of theobromine can lead to death by cardiac failure, dehydration, and seizures.

How much chocolate is OK a day? ›

The daily allowance for adult men and women without health problems is 30-50 grams of dark chocolate every day. With high physical exertion, an increase in the norm by 1.5 times is allowed. Doctors recommend eating milk and white chocolate - no more than 20 grams per day.

Is peanut butter good for you to eat? ›

Peanut butter is loaded with so many good, health-promoting nutrients, including vitamin E, magnesium, iron, selenium and vitamin B6. Research shows that people who regularly eat nuts and nut butter, including peanut butter, are less likely to develop heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Why is chocolate good for you at night? ›

Chocolate was found to be one of the best foods to help you nod off at night, thanks to its tryptophan (an amino acid) content. “Tryptophan is the biggest influence on melatonin levels, an important hormone which controls our sleep patterns,” says Medlin.

How much chocolate does the average German eat? ›

The average Brit, Swiss or German citizen will each eat around 24 pounds of chocolate a year. This means that they eat about as much chocolate every year as seafood. How much does US love chocolates?

How much chocolate do Europeans eat per year? ›

The countries with the highest per-capita chocolate consumption are in Europe. The world's average chocolate consumption amounts to an estimated 0.9 kg per capita per year .

Do the French eat a lot of chocolate? ›

Chocolate today is the favourite food of France!

According to a recent survey of the adult population, 97.8% of the population eat chocolate; 76.4% of them indulge at least once a week and 30.7% of these admit to eating it on a daily basis.

How much chocolate do the French eat? ›

The French consume an average of 7.3 kg of chocolate per person per year, which is higher than the average per capita consumption of 5 kg in Europe. Germany (11.1 kg), Switzerland (9.7 kg) and Estonia (8.8 kg) registered the highest per-capita chocolate consumption in Europe in 2018.

How much chocolate do French consume? ›

Eating an average of eight kilograms of chocolate per year, French people say they do not need a particular reason to enjoy a piece. Even though it is the first food they turn to in times of stress or unhappiness, French consumers do still take into account many characteristics before making their purchases.

Is UK chocolate better than American chocolate? ›

British chocolate, on the other hand, is said to be richer and smoother. The flavor distinctions aren't imaginary. They are tied to differences in recipes and manufacturing, depending on which side of the pond you're on. British chocolate tends to have a higher fat and cocoa content.

Why does chocolate taste different in the UK? ›

Why Does British Chocolate Taste So Good? British chocolate is often perceived as tasting so good due to its higher cocoa content, creamier texture, and the use of quality ingredients. British chocolate typically contains more cocoa solids, which contributes to a richer chocolate flavour.

What is the number 1 British chocolate? ›

1. Cadbury Dairy Milk. Cadbury Dairy Milk continues to dominate sales in the chocolate fixture.

What is Englands Favourite chocolate? ›

And, back in July, it was Ferrero Rocher that reigned supreme, with more than 900,000 searches…

What is Britain's Favourite chocolate bar? ›

According to the grocery delivery service, which analysed over 10,000,000 UK search results in time to revealed the nation's favourite chocolate as Fererro Rocher.

Which country sell the most chocolate? ›

According to Statista.com, Belgium exports the most chocolate worldwide as of 2021. This could come as no surprise, as some of the most widely used brands of chocolate are based in Belgium or owned by Belgium companies. A surprise to many would be countries like Poland or Canada in the top 5.

Who consumes more chocolate a year Americans or Europeans? ›

While Western Europeans on average eat about two-thirds of a pound more chocolate per year than Americans do, Americans are the hands-down champs in the consumption of salty snacks, from potato chips and tortilla chips to nuts and other “savory” snacks, said Jared Koerten, senior food analyst at Euromonitor.

What European country eats the most candy? ›

The U.S. may have a national sugar high on Halloween, but Germany actually consumes the most candy per capita. Oct.

Why is European chocolate better than American? ›

European chocolates, with their smoother, richer flavor, use European butter and cream, which has a higher fat content. To accentuate the smoothness of the chocolates, Europe also uses more cocoa butter, further accentuating the difference in taste.

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