Middle East and Africa Premium Chocolate Market – Industry Trends and Forecast to 2030

Middle East and Africa Premium Chocolate Market Analysis and Size

The Middle East and Africa premium chocolate market is expected to grow significantly in the forecast period of 2023 to 2030. Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the market is growing with a CAGR of 4.0% in the forecast period of 2023 to 2030 and is expected to reach USD 1,652,879.56 thousand by 2030. The major factor driving the growth of the Middle East and Africa Premium chocolate market is the rise in demand for highly luxurious chocolates.

Premium chocolates are known to have more cocoa content compared to regular ones. It comes in varieties like infused with nuts, fruits, and sometimes alcohol. The presence of all these ingredients gives the premium chocolates a better and more luxurious feel. Customers can get a smoother and richer taste.

The Middle East and Africa premium chocolate market report provides details of market share, new developments, and the impact of domestic and localized market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, products approvals, strategic decisions, product launches, geographic expansions, and technological innovations in the market. To understand the analysis and the market scenario, contact us for an analyst brief. Our team will help you create a revenue-impact solution to achieve your desired goal.

Market Definition

Premium chocolate is a type of chocolate that has a higher percentage of cocoa solids than regular chocolate milk. It can refer to a number of things, such as the high quantity of cocoa used in the bar; whether it is Fairtrade and sustainably sourced; if it combines other ingredients, such as raspberry chunks or alcohol; and if the packaging has a more sophisticated feel. It is also made with whole milk instead of skim milk and has a higher fat content. Premium chocolate milk has a richer flavor and a thicker consistency than regular chocolate milk.

Middle East and Africa Premium Chocolate Market Dynamics

DRIVERS

• Rise in popularity of vegan, organic, and gluten free chocolates.

The awareness of the consumption of vegan, organic, and gluten free chocolates has slowly evolved among consumers all over the globe. Vegan chocolate helps in improving brain function and is considered much better for health than the standard one. It is made from plant-based ingredients instead of dairy, eggs, and gelatin, which means it contains less fat, fewer calories, and no cholesterol.

The consumption of cocoa products has led to major health benefits, which is expected to drive the growth of the premium chocolate based products market. The health benefits include decreased hypertension, reduced chronic fatigue syndrome, and protection against sunburn, among others. Cocoa is also rich in polyphenols that help in protecting the body's tissues against oxidative stress and associated pathologies such as cancers and inflammation.

Cacao powder is used in making vegan chocolates which come from cacao beans that haven’t been roasted. Since these beans aren’t heated to a high temperature during processing, it helps in keeping all their vitamins and minerals intact. Also, vegan chocolates don’t have any milk in them, so they have a lot of fiber, protein, and antioxidants.

Vegan chocolates have anandamide and raw cacao in them, which bind to the receptors in your brain and make you feel happy and at peace. Vegan chocolate helps in lowering blood pressure. Besides lowering blood pressure, vegan chocolate has other properties that can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Other than cocoa’s positive impact on age-related mental degeneration, its effect on the brain may also improve mood and symptoms of depression.

A gluten-free diet is an alternative for those who have celiac disease. Eating gluten will cause your intestines to become inflamed and damaged, leading to various health problems, including vitamin deficiencies, anemia, and osteoporosis. Pure dark chocolate that is unsweetened and derived from roasted cacao beans doesn't contain gluten naturally. Therefore preference of gluten-free chocolate is a tasty and healthy alternative to regular chocolate due to its health benefits

The consumption of vegan, organic, and gluten-free chocolate based products can help to control heart and blood pressure diseases. So, the increase in the awareness of cocoa products on health is expected to drive the Middle East and Africa premium chocolate market.

• High demand for premium chocolates in the festive seasons.

Seasonal demand plays an important role in the sales of premium chocolates. In the Middle East and Africa market, the gifting of chocolates plays a major role and which leads to the increase in the festive seasons, especially on Easter, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and others. The growing influence of online retailing is also considered one of the prime reasons to increase the sales of seasonal chocolates. Westernization in the culture has become millennials aware of the gifting culture.

 Various seasonal chocolate players launch a wide range of crafted chocolates with new flavors and packaging variations during such special occasions. They are also following integrated marketing communication using various other modes of social media platforms to increase the popularity of their seasonal chocolate offerings. This helps in generating awareness about seasonal chocolates globally

The shifting preference and acceptance of chocolate and its attractive packaging, adopting the gifting culture, Consistency in quality, affluence of urbanization amid youth, and high disposable income is driving the market of premium chocolate culture.

The factors such as the purchasing power of the millennials, the booming e-commerce industry, the soar in the gifting market, and the influence of Westernization and unconventional approaches by retailing brands have spanned which is expected to drive the Middle East and Africa premium chocolate market

OPPORTUNITIES

• Continuous focus on developing new flavored and unique chocolates

The emerging trend of clean-label and organic products to maintain overall health and wellness has led to the rapid escalation in demand for premium or specialty chocolates. The introduction of unique taste and flavors have been seen to be a key factor that has been grabbing the attention of customers.

Moreover, companies are introducing their products with innovative ideas to secure their position in the Middle East and Africa premium chocolate market.

Thus to increase the consumer base, introducing flavored and improved textures of chocolates will create potential opportunities for premium chocolate producers. The companies should introduce local and seasonal flavors to attract consumers all around the globe, focusing both on health and taste.  This could open up a whole new area for flavor innovation which is expected to create an opportunity for the market.

• Rising trend of online distribution

E-commerce is redefining commercial activities around the world. Over the years, e-commerce has evolved in profound ways. There are so many health benefits of chocolate, along with the strong desire to add innovative flavors to chocolate drives up the sale of the chocolates. The distribution channel earlier was solely the stores that mainly run without any electronic media usage, but with the increased internet usage, the distribution channels are changed.  Since the internet continues influencing everyday lives, e-commerce is necessary for any market's growth and helps extend a business beyond its physical location.

Online distribution channel benefits the manufacturer by exploiting the eagerness of online customers to try new goods. Strong advertising and marketing campaigns for vegan, gluten-free, low sugar chocolates on the online sites will add to the sales of the chocolates. E-commerce is also a hit among consumers due to the multiple offers provided by online platforms on festivals and regular customers, and even on bulk orders.

The increased digitalization and migration of consumers to online distribution channels will continue to spur the growth of e-commerce, the makes the rising trend of online distribution channel, which is expected to create opportunity for the market.

RESTRAINTS/CHALLENGES

• Fluctuating prices of raw materials

The cost of chocolate has changed, but most consumers were unaware of it. The price volatility of chocolate is primarily influenced by the supply of chocolate drivers. The main component in chocolate production is cocoa, which is used in a variety of products. To make chocolate, other ingredients like sugar, dairy products, nuts, corn sweeteners, and energy are also required. The commodities market, which sets the price based on supply and demand levels and can cause varying levels of volatility on commodity prices, is primarily responsible for these commodities' prices.

Cocoa powder and cocoa butter are the two parts of cocoa that are used to make chocolate. Since it produces the richer chocolates and is used in thin chocolate confectionery treats, cocoa butter is by far the more desirable of the two. However, because it is the harder and more expensive to produce, any disruption in the supply of cocoa will eventually filter down and raise consumer prices. The fluctuating price of raw material for production is expected to restraint the premium chocolate growth in the market.   

• Rising cost of supply chain

The price volatility of chocolate is primarily influenced by the supply of chocolate. The main component in chocolate production is cocoa, which is used in a variety of products. Other ingredients required for the production of chocolate products include sugar, dairy products, nuts, corn sweeteners, and energy. The price are based on supply and demand levels and can cause varying levels of volatility on prices, is primarily responsible for these commodities' prices. The process by which cocoa becomes the ingredients for goods that are sold on supermarket shelves is a complicated one. At various stages of the production cycle, cocoa grown by a number of farmers, primarily smallholders, is blended together. Since most supply chain risks originate at the individual farm level, it is challenging to trace cocoa back to those locations because of this mixing. Additionally, this supply chain's complexity creates inequities throughout the value chain.

 Moreover, the most important problems in cocoa supply chains are the expansion of cocoa production into protected forest reserves and the use of child labor. Due to the anticipated rise in the frequency of pests, diseases, and droughts, climate change also poses a threat to the long-term viability of the cocoa industry.

The disruption in the supply chain leads to the increasing price of the supply chain, which is expected to challenge the market growth in the forecast period

Recent Developments

• Feb 10, 2023, Morinaga Nutritional Foods, Inc. (a subsidiary) announced the acquisition of Turtle Island Foods Holdings, Inc. Turtle Island Foods is a manufacturer of plant-based food products. As a result of this acquisition, Turtle Islands Foods will become a whole subsidiary of Morinaga Nutritional Foods, Inc. This will create an opportunity to develop nutritional chocolates for the premium chocolate market
• In 2021, Lindt and Sprüngli invested around USD 80.95 Million in order to expand its cocoa mass plant in Olten. It is considered the largest and most important cocoa mass plant with the Middle East and Africa production network

Middle East and Africa Premium Chocolate Market Scope

Middle East and Africa Premium Chocolate Market is segmented into nine notable segments based on type, product type, inclusion, nature, category, cocoa content, flavor, packaging, and distribution channel. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyze major growth segments in the industries and provide the users with a valuable market overview and market insights to make strategic decisions to identify core market applications.

TYPE

• Milk Chocolate
• Dark Chocolate
• White Chocolate

On the basis of type, the market is segmented into milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate.

PRODUCT TYPE

• Regular/Plain
• Filled

On the basis of product type, the market is segmented into regular/plain and filled.

INCLUSION

• With Inclusion Chocolates And Regular
• No Inclusions Chocolate

On the basis of inclusion, the market is segmented into with inclusion chocolates and regular, no inclusions chocolate.

NATURE

• Conventional
• Organic

On the basis of nature, the market is segmented into conventional and organic.

CATEGORY

• Standard Premium
• Super Premium

On the basis of category, the market is segmented into standard premium and super premium.

COCOA CONTENT

• 50-60%
• 71-80%
• 61-70%
• 81-90%
• 91-100%

On the basis of cocoa-content, the market is segmented into 50-60%, 71-80%, 61-70%, 81-90%, and 91-100%.

FLAVOR

• Flavor
• Classic/Regular

On the basis of flavor, the market is segmented into flavor, classic/regular.

PACKAGING

• Plastic Wrap
• Gift Boxes/Assorted
• Pouches
• Board Box
• Sachets
• Others

On the basis of packaging, the market is segmented into plastic wrap, gift boxes/assorted, pouches, board box, sachets, and others.

DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

• Store Based Retailer
• Non-Store Retailers

On the basis of distribution channel, the market is segmented into store based retailers and non-store retailers.

Middle East and Africa Premium Chocolate Market Regional Analysis/Insights

The Middle East and Africa premium chocolate market is segmented on the basis of type, product type, inclusion, nature, category, cocoa content, flavor, packaging, and distribution channel.

The countries in the Middle East and Africa premium chocolate market are the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the Rest of Middle East and Africa.

The United Arab Emirates is dominating the Middle East and Africa premium chocolate market in terms of market share and market revenue due to the growing awareness regarding the properties of the Alkylation technologies in this region.

The country section of the report also provides individual market-impacting factors and changes in market regulation that impact the current and future trends of the market. Data point downstream and upstream value chain analysis, technical trends, porter's five forces analysis, and case studies are some of the pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, the presence and availability of Middle East and Africa brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, the impact of domestic tariffs, and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data.   

Competitive Landscape and Middle East and Africa Premium Chocolate Market Share Analysis

The Middle East and Africa premium chocolate market competitive landscape provides details by competitors. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, production sites and facilities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product trials pipelines, product approvals, patents, product width and breadth, application dominance, technology lifeline curve. The above data points provided are only related to the companies’ focus related to the Middle East and Africa Premium Chocolate Market.

Some of the major players operating in the Middle East and Africa premium chocolate market are Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates, Mondelēz International, THE HERSHEY COMPANY, Ferrero, Nestlé, General Mills, Inc., Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd., Lindt & Sprungli AG, Barry Callebaut, The Kraft Heinz Company, Cargill, Incorporated. , Cloetta AB, ORION CORP., Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (A Subsidiary of Lindt & Sprüngli AG), Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd., MORINAGA & CO., LTD, and Arcor among others.

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