Chocolate summit focuses on emerging trends

As many as 80% of chocolate consumers globally would like to try non-dairy ‘milk’ chocolate. About 31% consider a ‘high protein’ claim to be important when buying chocolate, and 40% admit that they eat sweet chocolate & nut spreads with a spoon – straight from the jar.

These are just a few of the findings gathered by AAK in a recent survey of chocolate consumers in 12 countries[1], underlining how the company is able to deliver the very latest consumer insights to support customers with product development. AAK will showcase this expertise – and more – at the new Chocolate Summit, which takes place in London on September 5-6, 2019.

The event will be highly interactive, with an opportunity for attendees to take part in a ‘Chocolate Safari’ on the streets of London, visiting independent boutiques, larger businesses, department stores, and restaurants. There will be creative roundtable discussions and a chance to taste the newest innovations in chocolate, developed to align with the latest emerging trends, including formulations that are high protein, plant-based/vegan, and very low in sugar.

The Chocolate Summit is targeting B2C brand and marketing professionals from the chocolate industry all over the world, who can register to attend at aak.com/chocolatesummit/register-today. Sessions will focus on topics such as brand strategy, overcoming barriers for growth, consumer drivers and online experiential marketing. Several inspiring speakers are lined up, including:

• Joost Lindeman, Global Brand Director for Barry Callebaut
• Simon Black, Chief Strategy Officer at Design Bridge
• Christopher Slim, Chairman of N!CK’s
• Metin Salih, International artist and illustrator
• Johan Westman, President and CEO of AAK Group

The Chocolate Summit will be facilitated by Peter Wennström, President of The Healthy Marketing Team. He said: “This event will be an excellent opportunity to understand the motivations of today’s chocolate consumers. How is greater interest in raw material sourcing practices affecting purchasing decisions? In what way is concern about sugar impacting on how people shop the chocolate category? We’ll be taking a deep dive into these issues, and more, with an emphasis on delivering frontline insights to delegates that will give them an edge in a fiercely competitive market.”

Marco Oomen, AAK’s Global Business Director for Chocolate & Confectionery Fats, added: “The results from AAK’s latest consumer research give the chocolate industry a lot to think about by highlighting the beliefs and behaviors that are re-shaping the industry. Our Chocolate Summit in London will bring together marketing and brand experts from across the chocolate supply chain to explore how we can interpret these emerging trends, and others, to create products aligned with the needs and preferences of modern consumers.”

AAK is one of the world’s leading suppliers of oils and fats to the chocolate industry, with Chocolate and Confectionery Innovation Centers located globally. With a focus on ‘co-development’, AAK is committed to working closely with its customers to create products that consumers will want to buy time and time again.