Dive Brief:
- In the days before Halloween, one thing is clear: the chocolate market in the U.S. is booming.
- Americans already eat more chocolate than anyone else. This year's consumption is expected to hit a record $17.75 billion, according to estimates from Euromonitor International PLC.
- The rise in consumption comes even as sales of other indulgences such as soda and breakfast cereals fall, and despite a rise in the cost of chocolate amid fears that Ebola threatens the world's cocoa supply.
Dive Insight:
It's difficult to parse exactly what's going on in the chocolate world. Clearly, Americans still love the stuff, and the recent rises in prices have not been enough to convince them to find treats elsewhere. However, European confectionery companies are apparently not as optimistic about the market as are their American counterparts.
Still, the chocolate market may be in for yet another surge. News over the weekend showed that researchers now believe that naturally occurring flavanols in cocoa beans can reverse age-related memory decline.