While consumers admit they’ve boosted their chocolate consumption, few register remorse for their indulgence. Join Ingredion for a practical conversation on how food and beverage brands are letting consumers eat cake AND feel good about their indulgent choices. More novel flavor pairings such as spice, herbal and botanical notes appealed to a much narrower swath of consumers, but did show a slight uptick in interest amongst younger demographics – notably Gen Y and Gen Z. These findings around consumer perceptions reveal that chocolate may have a larger role to play in the better-for-you food segment as very few reported feeling guilty about their uptick in chocolate consumption, noted Cargill.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the survey found this perception is a key purchase driver for dark chocolate, with 52% of consumers choosing it because they believe “it’s healthier.MINNEAPOLIS (June 14, 2021) — Reaffirming chocolate’s near universal appeal, a new survey from Cargill finds most Americans indulge in a chocolate-flavored treat every day. While the study reveals 45% of consumers are always looking for new types of chocolate, when it comes to chocolate flavor pairings, classics still win out. To ensure a more sustainable supply of quality cocoa beans, Cargill established our own sourcing and trading operations at origin in Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Indonesia. Our 160,000-plus team members around the world innovate with purpose, empowering our partners and communities as we work to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, sustainable way. Behind these time-tested combinations, salty, mint, fruity and coffee/espresso flavors held similar sway – with no single option clearly rising to the top.

Caramel and peanut butter topped the list by a significant margin, with 60% of consumers selecting them in their top three. And while 45% of consumers surveyed said they were looking for new types of chocolate products, interest in classic flavor pairing won out -- 60% of respondents chose caramel and peanut butter as one of their top three favorite chocolate flavor pairings. With balanced efforts on security of supply, sustainability projects and sensory expertise, we create a wide range of outstanding standardized and custom-made products and services.

Whatever the reason, more than half (52%) of Americans find chocolate gets them through a tough day. Sweetened with herbal extract stevia, the products contain between 60% and 90% less sugar than standard chocolate. Cargill fielded a proprietary survey to track chocolate’s appeal on its own, and also when incorporated into bakery, beverages, candy, ice cream, salty snacks and snack/nutrition bars.

compared to the same period last year, while the entire chocolate segment saw retail sales in grocery increase 17.We grow a robust, fair and transparent supply chain, from bean to bar, eager to continuously shape industry standards. Consumers reported paying closer attention to claims around cacao content and provenance to judge chocolate quality, said Cargill. In fact, consumer perceptions around chocolate suggest it may have an authentic role to play in better-for-you food choices. From feed that reduces methane emissions to waste-based renewable fuels, the possibilities are boundless. The range comprises milk, dark and milk with hazelnut sharing bars, the Neapolitan wrapped assortment, and Chocologic Belgian Seashells filled with hazelnut cream.