"Healthier" Chocolate Products Show Success in US Market

"Healthier" chocolate products with lower fat and calories are increasing in demand while other segments are declining. Nestle USA stated the lower-calorie chocolate line it launched in 2011 was one of its snack division's best-ever debuts, and in 2012 Hershey brought out Simple Pleasures, a brand with almost a third less fat than average milk chocolates. Barry Callebaut claims products with health benefits now make up 5 percent of its sales. Although demand in the North American cocoa market slowed throughout much of 2012, the processing of cacao beans rose nearly 6 percent in North America in the first quarter of 2013, reports Reuters