Russia’s domestic chocolate market set to grow significantly

Psychological research indicates that chocolate consumers consider the confection to be an unhealthy, yet extremely tasty treat – it is most frequently an impulse buy. Source: PhotoXPress.

Psychological research indicates that chocolate consumers consider the confection to be an unhealthy, yet extremely tasty treat – it is most frequently an impulse buy. Source: PhotoXPress.

KPMG is forecasting rapid growth for the Russian chocolate market – 45 percent over the next three years. By contrast, growth in the world market for chocolate will only rise 2 percent annually. Experts see Russians moving up the value chain and increasingly purchase handmade chocolates, while manufacturers themselves do not expect such explosive growth.

The global chocolate market shows stable development and is estimated to grow at an average of 2 percent annually over the next five years, according to a KPMG study entitled “The chocolate of tomorrow: What today's market can tell us about the future.”

The study shows that Russia is one of the most promising emerging markets for chocolatiers. Its market is worth more than $8 billion and is expected to grow 45 percent by 2016. “The degree to which consumers are moving up to products with higher price tags is motivating producers to increase their output of handmade chocolates,” said Georgy Pataraya, Head of Consumer Markets at KPMG Russia and CIS.

By comparison, U.S. consumers display an unwavering demand for high-quality products at affordable prices, as well as wild flavors such as bacon or wasabi. The overall drive toward healthy eating has yet to become a factor for chocolate consumption in the United States. Meanwhile, in Western Europe – which is still the largest chocolate market in the world – chocolatiers are increasingly concerned with the health of their consumers. In 2011, 10 percent of the new chocolate products launched in Western Europe were marketed as vegetarian, 7 percent as free from additives and 7 percent as satisfying organic food regulations.

Psychological research indicates that chocolate consumers consider the confection to be an unhealthy, yet extremely tasty treat – it is most frequently an impulse buy.

Chocolate consumption is expected to increase over the next one to two years and be driven by rising disposable incomes and expanding consumer lending, said Andrei Korkunov, the founder of the Odintsovskaya Confectionery. “I believe in the Russian market. Russians are being spooked with a crisis all the time, but life goes on – we still go to visit friends and bring gifts for our hosts. People want to live today and not worry about tomorrow. It’s an attitude that encourages spending cash on high-quality items, and I’d class high-quality chocolate in that category,” Korkunov said. At the same time, Korkunov only expects growth rates of between 5 to 7 percent annually for the chocolate market.

The consumption of handmade chocolates will grow, although at a slower pace than other types of chocolate whose demand is not based on a certain consumer culture. “Even the tiniest town in France, Belgium, or Italy will have a chocolatier,” said Korkunov. “In Russia, such shops have only been opening in large cities; but they will spread to smaller towns too, because Russians love their chocolate. Then again, this won’t happen within two or three years. It is going to take longer than that.”

The full version of the article was published in Russian in RBC Daily.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

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