Consumers have indulged in fine chocolate and even endeavored to make their own, during the pandemic, said Bill Guyton, executive director of the Fine Chocolate Industry Association during a Specialty Food Live! session, Thursday.
He explained that fine chocolate can be distinguished from mass market varieties by the way that it tastes, looks, its minimal processing, and by its fewer and higher quality ingredients. “Most fine chocolate is also ethically sourced so it’s a much more direct supply chain which is a win for small businesses, farmers, and consumers,” Guyton said.
Fine chocolate consumers tend to be younger, millennial-aged, more affluent, and living in urban areas, according to Guyton. “More consumers are appreciating chocolate throughout the U.S. and they’re driven by chocolate festivals and opportunities for consumers to sample and appreciate chocolate. With COVID-19, many are attending online chocolate festivals to discover products,” he said.
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