Easter Egg choices are at an all-time high following a 23 per cent rise in launches globally over the past year.
Researcher Mintel says countries leading the way in Easter chocolate innovation include Brazil, which accounted for 11 per cent of global Easter chocolate product launches in 2017, followed by the UK, South Africa, Germany (each with a 10% share) and France (9%).
Almost a quarter (23%) of global chocolate launches were positioned as seasonal, such as Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day and Halloween, in 2017.
Overall, the US and Germany lead in terms of total chocolate new product development (NPD), each accounting for eight per cent of new product launches in 2017. This is followed by France (7%), the UK (5%) and Brazil (4%). Australia did not make the top five.
Director of food and drink insight Marcia Mogelonsky said Easter provided an opportunity for ‘permissible indulgence’ and increased innovation.
In the UK, for example, Easter eggs flavoured with beer or stout have given way to new alternatives such as gin-and-tonic flavoured eggs.
In Germany, the introduction of vegan Easter bunnies and eggs reflects the growing popularity of a plant-based diet in that country.
Small but satisfying
Global launches of chocolate products described as "bites" have also grown by 50 per cent over the past five years, with "thins" not far behind, increasing 48 per cent over the same period.
At the same time, consumers are losing their appetite for “light” versions of confectionery, with such products falling by 22 per cent between 2013 and 2017.
