The chocolate confectionery industry is slow growing, driven primarily by the popularity of premium chocolate. This report looks at issues facing the industry, including:

• The overall flattening sales rates and the sinking fortunes of snack-sized and sugar-free segments
• The dynamics of chocolate retailing and the strength of non-traditional channels
• The declining share of sales through supermarkets, and what can be done to shore up that channel
• Potential new products and how they could attract new user groups
• What consumers eat when they crave something sweet-and how manufacturers of chocolate can move into other industries
• Counterintuitive chocolate products: natural, organic, and functional. Savory chocolates-with herbal or spicy flavor notes-are a niche market, but adults may consider them worth a try
• Who eats candy-beyond kids and teens-and how chocolate gift giving varies by holiday