U.S. sales of chocolate products with hazelnuts have increased 37 percent since 2003, according to IRI data from InfoScan. The data included product sales from 2002-2007 and included more than 10,000 candy UPCs.*

Total hazelnut chocolate product sales were approximately $64 million in 2002 and, though the numbers took a slight dip in 2003 and 2004, they have been on an upward trend from 2005 to 2007. Sales in 2007 were $85.7 million.

Increased sales have been partly affected by overall growth in the chocolate industry during the same period and the increased interest in gourmet chocolate products. Hazelnut products currently account for more than 20 percent of the total gourmet chocolate market.

Mintel’s 2008 Chocolate Confectionery report predicts the overall chocolate market will continue to grow during the next six years. Several companies have already noticed the trend and recently introduced new hazelnut chocolate products to meet growing demand.

Dove recently introduced a Roasted Hazelnut Milk Chocolate bar and Theo Chocolate, a premium chocolate manufacturer based in Seattle, WA, released their Hazelnut Crunch Milk Chocolate bar in March. The product is likely to quickly become the number two seller in its popular line of gourmet chocolate products.

• Click here to read more about the new Dove product.
• Click here to read more about the new Theo Chocolate bar.

* Does not include sales from Wal-Mart, private label or non-IRI tracked channels.

Source:
Mintel’s 2008 Chocolate Confectionery, July 2008

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