From the current innovative chocolate products in the chocolate market, its innovation direction mainly focuses on the four key words of functional element addition, sugar reduction, plant-based and novel taste.
1. Functional elements are added to comply with the trend of health
With the upgrading of consumption concept and the prevalence of health tide, consumers put forward more demands for imported food. According to a report released by tastewise, a data provider, more than a third of consumers are looking for functional benefits in their food, and the number of consumers looking for physical and mental health functions in food and beverages has increased by 23% in the past year. It is not surprising that chocolate, as a highly inclusive food, will become a high-quality carrier of functional elements.
A few years ago, Rakuten achieved great success with a lactic acid bacteria chocolate. Meiji, grigor and Senyong also began to study functional chocolate. Then, grigor launched a variety of chocolate rich in dietary fiber, and Senyong fruit launched a series of functional chocolate containing its proprietary ingredients, including Senyong passienol chocolate with Senyong patented ingredient passienol.
2. "Sugar reducing" chocolate is popular choice
In recent years, sugar reduction has swept the food and beverage industry, chocolate has also joined the ranks of "sugar reduction", and there are many "sugar free" chocolate products in the market.
Taking the international giant Nestle as an example, its chocolate brand KitKat has launched a sugar reduced cocoa pulp chocolate in Japan and set off a consumption boom. It is understood that the product is completely made of cocoa fruit, uses natural cocoa bean pulp as a sweetener, does not add any refined sugar, can reduce the sugar content by 40%, and does not affect the taste and quality of the product. At present, Nestle has applied for a patent for this innovative technology. Another international chocolate giant Yizi international has also made frequent moves on chocolate. Its brand Cadbury has launched 30% sugar reduced milk chocolate without artificial sweeteners, which is known as the "most significant innovation" in Cadbury's history.
3. "Plant based" wind blows to the chocolate industry
As one of the mainstream trends in the food industry in recent years, the plant-based wave also covers the chocolate category. Although there are not many "plant-based" chocolate products in the chocolate market, it is the mainstream innovation method selected by many chocolate giants.
As early as 2019, Mars launched a galaxy vegetarian chocolate. It is understood that the biggest feature of this product is that it replaces the "milk" in chocolate with the "plant-based" milk source, and maintains the brand silky taste. At the same time, the obvious words "vegan" can also be seen on the outer package of this product. Following closely, Lindt, another internationally renowned chocolate producer, first introduced a series of plant-based chocolate products made from oatmeal instead of milk in Germany in November the following year, with three flavors of hazelnut, sea salt and cookie.
In the international market, a Japanese company called true food & design has created a pure chocolate product called true food chocolate. The product focuses on healthy, natural and plant-based ideas, and does not contain sugar, sugar alcohol or artificial sweeteners. It only contains six ingredients: cocoa, coconut, chicory, vanilla, hemp seed and Siraitia grosvenorii, which has attracted extensive attention in the industry.
Functional chocolate
Speaking of chocolate, many people will associate it with "getting fat". But in recent years, chocolate has gradually become a new outlet of functional food. At present, consumers can buy a series of chocolate products with different functional claims in the market, which can help to supplement the daily nutrients.
Gelco's functional chocolate brand LIBERA's eye protection chocolate is a milk-flavored chocolate specially designed for working women, with eye protection as its main selling point. Natural astaxanthin is added to the product, which can effectively relieve visual fatigue. In addition, antioxidant components such as vitamin C and vitamin E are added.
A milk chocolate dietary supplement launched by Mybite Vitamins has chocolate coating and soft filling, which wraps nutrients and functional ingredients. There are many products such as female vitamins, male vitamins, children's vitamins, multivitamins, energy, sleep and calcium.
Vegetable chocolate-"guilt-free" vegetarian chocolate
Although many people set the goal of fitness, low-carbon water and sugar control, some people forget themselves before the temptation of sweets.
True Food & Design, a Japanese start-up, pays special attention to these active consumers and sees people's demand for fitness and healthier chocolate. The company developed a healthy, natural and vegan chocolate product-True Food Chocolate. This product does not contain sugar, sugar alcohol or artificial sweetener, but only contains six ingredients: cocoa, coconut, chicory, vanilla, hemp seed and Siraitia grosvenorii.
Mars also launched a chocolate with a "vegetarian" claim in Galaxy Vegetarian Chocolate Series. The biggest feature of this product is that "plant-based" milk source is used instead of "milk" in chocolate, and the brand silky taste is maintained. At the same time, on the outer packaging of the product, you can also see the obvious word "VEGAN".
3D printing chocolate
Chocolate manufacturer Baile Jialibao launched the world's first mass-produced personalized 3D printed chocolate through its decorative chocolate brand Mona Lisa in 2020.
By combining innovative production technology, custom design and chocolate expertise of Baile Jialibao, Mona Lisa 3D Design Studio has satisfied consumers' desire for trendy lifestyle and "revolutionized the world of craft chocolate".
Sugar-reduced chocolate
In recent years, the trend of reducing sugar is prevalent, and chocolate has also joined the ranks of "reducing sugar". For example, Cadbury, a brand owned by Yizi International, introduced milk chocolate with 30% reduced sugar and no artificial sweetener, which is called "the most significant innovation" in the history of Cadbury. In 2020, this sugar-reduced chocolate made its debut in China International Import Expo(CIIE), China.
KitKat, a chocolate brand owned by Nestle, launched a sugar-reduced chocolate with cocoa pulp in Japan.
This chocolate is made entirely of cocoa fruit, using natural cocoa bean pulp as sweetener without any refined sugar, which can reduce the sugar content by 40%. Nestle has applied for a patent for this innovative technology.
As the breakthrough point of snack food and even food category, chocolate category innovation provides a high-quality long track with sufficient growth rate and breakthrough opportunities.
Mylk Chocolate, The Chocolate Counter, Australia
Some new products in chocolate category enable consumers who can't or don't want to eat milk products to enjoy the taste and taste of milk chocolate. The Chocolate Counter Mylk chocolate is a product composed of pure natural raw materials, coconut water, arhat juice, coconut, dietary fiber and protein. This pure natural chocolate provides dietary fiber and does not contain lactose, gluten, soy or added sugar. It is said that it has a rich taste and smooth texture.
Hogarth, a chocolate manufacturer in New Zealand, added butter toast and muldoon sea salt to chocolate to create a unique flavor of salty and sweet, which was highly sought after by consumers. Another Sarsaparilla flavor, Hogarth, combines three spices of Sarsaparilla, licorice and ginger with cocoa and orange. The resulting chocolate is very aromatic and refreshing, with candied orange slices and sweet taste. With these indescribable complex flavors, Hogarth also won the global chocolate innovation awards one after another.
Peppermint, Active D'Lites with Probiotics, USA
Consumers are interested in learning more about ingredients, which may encourage the demand for chocolate and probiotics. Active D'Lites with Probiotics mint chocolate claims to be a healthy and delicious European chocolate. It promotes health, complements diet and contains synbiotics. This Jewish certified product contains stevia rebaudiana and 20 billion probiotics, which provides rich dietary fiber and only has 110 calories. It has no added sugar, low allergens, and contains doctor's fiber, giving the body extra nutrition. It naturally regulates the digestive system, even exceeding the level of medical treatment.
Cocoa lasagna, E. Wedel Makarony Polskie, Poland
Lotte Wedel has been trying hard to attract consumers and home cooks who dare to try novel chocolate products, and encourage them to use E. Wedel chocolate as a versatile and surprising cooking/baking ingredient. E. Wedel Makarony Polskie Makar on wstegi Ozdobne Z Kakao is a product jointly developed by E. Wedel and Makarony Polskie. The formula uses cocoa from Ghana. This chocolate with Cottage Cheese cottage cheese and fruit can make a list of sweet dishes; with Mu Si and toppings, it can become a rich dessert; with blue cheese, spinach and nuts, it can make a seasoned dish.
FOCUS chocolate introduced by PEAK helps to concentrate. Its ingredients include Hericium erinaceus, green tea extract, ginkgo biloba leaves, natural caffeine and B vitamins.
In January 2022, German brand Ritter Sport will launch a new vegan milk chocolate bar in its own country. The new Vegan Pur Ohne Muh (translated as "vegan without Moo") chocolate bar is made of simple raw materials, which can provide milk chocolate experience without using any dairy products.
Fxchocolate takes a series of functional chocolates as customized nutritional products, which can be customized according to the different health needs of consumers. Aloe is used as sweetener, with zero calorie and zero sugar. Products include sunshine (vitamin D3+k2, calcium supplement and immunity), dream(5-htp+ melatonin, sleep aid), defend (Ganoderma lucidum, adaptogen and immunity), exhale(GABA+L- theanine, mood relief), superfood (blueberry+musk grape, cell protection) and Thrive.
The common application fields of functional chocolate in Japanese market are mainly beauty, emotional sleep, weight loss, intestinal health, etc. Common functional ingredients include GABA, pueraria lobata isoflavone, rosehip ginsenosides, astaxanthin, lactic acid bacteria, ginkgo biloba leaves, apocynum venetum extract, etc. Beicai has declared a variety of functional food life smart chocolates, whose functions include improving the memory of middle-aged and elderly people, promoting sleep and moisturizing skin.
Moloko Ingredients+Foods, a high-protein food expert
High-protein chocolate designed for lovers of healthy living.
High-quality cocoa beans, silky and delicate creamy taste.
Combining design with sports events,
However, it adopts an illustration style that seems to be "amateur"
Convey a positive lifestyle, but not so serious.
ÉSOPHY Chocolates
At the same time, the subtle combination of Mediterranean traditional and modern colors
It conveys the freshness, top quality and flavor of the product.
Cacaobaba Booster Chocolate
The unique wing packaging design vividly conveys
The special functionality of the product
Enjoy this chocolate with 5 powerful and healthy ingredients.
Such as maca powder, organic lemon peel, kudzu root powder, etc.
Consumers will experience the happy feeling of flying.
At the same time, red and white color matching and compact packaging
It also highlights the high-end and exquisite feeling of products.
Krausz Handmade Premium Chocolate
Elegant and minimalist packaging with modern transparent windows
Highlight the perfect combination of dried fruit and chocolate.
Let consumers feel for themselves.
High quality and aesthetic feeling of handmade chocolate
Chocumin
An emerging chocolate brand, launched the world's first super chocolate containing 33% refined turmeric, providing consumers with daily intake of curcumin, a bioactive ingredient, in a more convenient and leisure way.
At present, Chocumin is launching a crowdfunding campaign for new super chocolate products, and all the fund-raising will be used for the production of this series of functional chocolates.
There are milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and Swiss chocolate. Each Chocumin chocolate contains 1000mg curcumin, which is equivalent to the content of curcumin in 60 500mg turmeric capsules.
ÉSOPHY Chocolates
Illustration of Cocoa Tree with Mediterranean Herbs and Nuts
Created a unique visual effect of the brand.
Good Chocolate is a company specializing in making functional chocolate. It was founded in 14 years by surgeon Andrew Goldman and market analyst Simeon Margolis. Each chocolate bean is as big as an almond, tastes like milk chocolate, is mellow, silky, crispy and delicious. At present, there are four products: energy products with caffeine, sleep aids with melatonin, sedative products with CBD and L- theanine, and ordinary CBD products.
Chocumin chocolate
Usually, people eat chocolate, which may have a lot to do with their emotional state, such as happiness, sadness, excitement, anxiety, etc. As a result, we may eat the whole chocolate or the whole box. Then the weight gain makes us feel guilty, and then it keeps circulating … and Chocumin is not such a brand, and there is no such marketing method. That's why each Chocumin chocolate is packaged independently, just to prevent consumers from overindulging and overeating. "
