Happy Easter!

UK Easter gift spending expected to be worth £590m this year.  Brits top the global chocolate eating charts, according to Mintel .  Just Love these decorated Viennese-style chocolate eggs available at The Delaunay Counter.

Happy Easter everyone.  
Hope you’ll all be eating a lot of chocolates during the holidays, and rightfully so, you will be in good company.

According to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), there has been a delicious 23% rise in Easter chocolate launches over the past year* providing a plethora of chocolate choice for Easter egg hunts across the globe.

The countries leading the way in Easter chocolate innovation include Brazil, which accounted for 11% of global Easter chocolate product launches in 2017, followed by the UK, South Africa, Germany (each with a 10% share) and France (9%).

However, it seems no one loves chocolate quite as much as the Brits across the globe. The average Brit devoured 8.4 kg worth of chocolate in 2017.  Hot on the heels of the Brits, Switzerland consumed 8.3kg, closely followed by Germany at 8.2kg.  Within the top 10 chocolate per capita consumers, Russia experienced the biggest increase at 2.2%; meanwhile, Austria reported the sharpest decline at -1.9%.

Reflecting the importance of seasonal products as a whole, in 2017, almost a quarter (23%) of global chocolate launches were positioned as seasonal, such as Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day and Halloween.

Overall, the US and Germany lead in terms of total chocolate new product development (NPD), each accounting for 8% of new product launches in 2017. This is followed by France (7%), the UK (5%) and Brazil (4%).

Marcia Mogelonsky, Director of Insight, Mintel Food and Drink, said:“Easter represents one of those ‘permissible indulgence’ moments where consumers enjoy giving and receiving chocolate treats. The holiday also marks a time for increased innovation in confectionery as consumers seek new and novel products. In the UK, for example, Easter eggs flavoured with beer or stout, which were the rage in past years, have given way to new alternatives such as gin-and-tonic flavoured eggs. In Germany, the introduction of vegan Easter bunnies and eggs reflects the growing popularity of a plant-based diet in that country.”

Sweet success for seasonal chocolates.

Recently I read a promotion by fashion mail order house Boden in the lead up to the Easter weekend that Clothes are the new Chocolate.  Quite a sweet statement I must say to lure my attention, being both a clothes and a chocolate lover.

Easter Chocolates in Foil in Cello Bag sold at Dobbies.

While fashion retailers have reported mixed results during the Spring launch season, chocolates are one of the areas that have been doing well.

In the UK Brits spent a delicious £374 million on Easter confectionery last year. This figure was provided by retail research experts at Mintel that has revealed that confectionery continues to drive Easter purchases in the UK with 49% of Easter shoppers buying chocolate gifts in 2016.

What is more, expenditure on confectionery accounted for approximately 68% of all Easter product spending.

However, the Mintel report also revealed that across the globe as in the UK seasonal launches accounted for one quarter (25%) of global chocolate new product launches in 2016, the biggest area of chocolate new product development (NPD) according to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD).

In 2016, some 28% of seasonal launches globally were positioned for Easter, highlighting the ongoing popularity of eggs, bunnies and other chocolate treats.  This makes Easter a growing retail season to match Christmas.

Those countries accounting for the most Easter chocolate innovation include Brazil, which accounted for 14% of global Easter chocolate product launches, France with an 11% share and South Africa with a 10% share.

"Seasonal chocolate is immune to recessionary pressures as these products are bought on an occasional basis."

Overall, launch activity in the confectionery category was somewhat restrained in 2016. The number of chocolate confectionery launches globally grew by just 3% between 2015 and 2016.

Marcia Mogelonsky, Director of Insight, Mintel Food and Drink, said: “Our research shows that seasonal chocolate tops all chocolate new product development, a testament to the popularity of seasonal treats among consumers across the globe. This reflects the fact that these products are typically bought to help celebrate holidays or special occasions. With this in mind, seasonal chocolate is somewhat immune to recessionary pressures as these products are bought on an occasional basis.”

“In countries where Easter is celebrated, there has been a broad range of new chocolate products coming to market. Easter egg innovation is especially interesting as manufacturers experiment with a range of products, from sweet to savoury. In 2016, the UK market saw growth in Easter treats in terms of both volume and value; however, value growth was highest, suggesting consumers may be investing in slightly more premium chocolate products as brands increasingly expand their offer.” Added Marcia.