Sales of the leading chocolate candy brands of the U.S. 2017
The chocolate candy market in the United States - additional information
In 2020, the world population is expected to consume some 8.5 million tons of chocolate. However, the familiar form of this beloved dessert wasn’t developed until the late 19th century, early 20th century, when the industrial revolution brought along many changes in how cacao was processed. Some of the visionary producers of chocolate of that time, such as Milton S. Hershey, Henri Nestlé or the Cadbury brothers are still known today.
The United States, where total chocolate sales in 2017 are estimated to amount to some 22 billion U.S. dollars, is expected to become the world’s leading chocolate consuming country by 2020. Chocolate products packaged in bags and boxes weighing around 3.5 ounces are by far the most popular types of chocolate products in the United States. As of 2016, the leading chocolate company in the country was Hershey’s, with a market share of over 44 percent, followed by Mars, Lindt and Nestlé. Although Mars does not occupy first place, it does own America’s favorite chocolate candy product: M&M’s. The colorful somewhat pill-shaped chocolate candies originated in the United States in 1941 and come in a number of varieties, such as: milk chocolate, white chocolate, mint chocolate, crisped rice, birthday cake, peanuts, coconut, wild cherry or pumpkin spice.