“The local chocolate market has begun to show signs of a rebound this year, as consumption has started to pick up. The overall chocolate confectionery market is expected to post an year-on-year increase of some 5% in volume,” said Kandia Dulce marketing manager Gabriela Munteanu.
Euromonitor data show chocolate consumption in Romania reached 29.6 million kilograms in 2012, down nearly 5% on the year, which was the fourth year of market decline since 2008.
Chocolate consumption reached its peak in 2008, when it hit 39 million kilograms, namely, 1.9 kilograms per capita. A Romanian currently eats nearly 1.5 kilograms of chocolate per year.
Local brands held by foreign companies
In 2012, the best-seling chocolate brands were Poiana and Milka (both imported by Mondelez Romania), Kandia (made by Kandia company) Heidi (made by Heidi Chocolat) and Primola (in Kandia Dulce’s portfolio). Euromonitor data also show that in 2012, the biggest chocolate producers by value were Mondelez International, Kandia Dulce, Mars, Nestlé and Heidi Chocolat.
Overall, the five largest players on the local profile market register cumulated sales of around EUR400 million, but not all of them have only chocolate or chocolate products in their product portfolio. For instance, Mondelez and Nestlé also make coffee and other products.
According to latest data, Romania’s chocolate market is estimated at nearly EUR300 million.