Top 10 Best Chocolate Brands in the USA

According to a latest industry estimate almost 266 million US citizens regularly consumed various types of chocolate last year whilst just about 66 million citizens did not consume chocolate. This boils down to the fact that almost around 75% of the US population are connoisseurs of chocolate .

Per capita consumption of chocolate is 11 pounds last year and that of candies is 22 pounds last year. The chocolate industry in the USA is showing a continuous upward trend since the last couple of years and is expected to cross and surpass $ 20 billion within the next 5 years. The overall market is expected to grow by at least 2% per year.

Contents

Best Chocolate Brands in the USA

10. Galaxy –

Although the mother brand is U.K. based , in the USA it is known as Dove and owned by Mars Inc. The brand was launched in 1939 in the USA and manufacturers and markets a wide variety of chocolate candies and products. The first product which was an astounding success was the Dove bar. Other high selling items that the company markets are Dove Promises, Nuts and Fruits, Bars and Singles, ice cream and the most coveted signature collection.

As a great social service initiative Dove sources almost the entire cocoa it requires from the Rainforest Alliances Certified farms for its dark chocolates.

9. Milka –

The unique feature about this chocolate manufacturer is that in a few years from now it will complete its double century. Milka started off from Switzerland but is now present all over the globe. Currently the owner is Mondelez International since 2012.

Some of the mouth watering yummy items that Milka markets are Alpine Milk, Broken Nuts, Milka and Oreo, Choco swing, Caramel, Almond and Caramel and other items.

8.Nestle –

The Switzerland based MNC is the largest food and chocolate producing company in the world. Nestle has already figured in the list of Fortune 500 and Fortune 2000 companies. Present in almost 200 locations in 34 US states; the company has 68 factories across the country.

Some of the best known chocolate brands of this group is Nestle Damak —- dark chocolate with the best quality Turkish pistachios. Another two hot selling items are CarlosV Mexican Chocolate and Abuelita.

7.Ghirardelli-

The owner started his foray into the confectionary business as a junior trade apprentice in Italy around 1817 . The gentleman left the shores of Italy in 1849 for America and opened his first store at Stockton California and then on to in San Francisco which was the first official store of Ghirardelli.

In early 2000s the company introduced the stand up packs for chocolates followed by grand launches every year. While in 2004 it was peppermint, thereafter dark squares and dark bars followed suit. It has its own exclusive stall in Disney Land.

Some of its highly popular chocolates are milk chocolates, caramel chocolates , classic chocolate brownies etc. Which habe been winning millions of hearts.

6.Kinder-

Originally a brand based in Germany, Kinder is the subsidiary of the Italian transnational confectioner Ferraro. Formed in 1967 at Frankfurt, the company has around 22 brands selling in 125 countries globally.

Some of the most popular chocolates flavours that the company produces are Kinder Bueno with hazelnut cream, Kinder Surprise, Kinder Joy, Happy Hippos and other very popular brands.

5. Toblerone–

Owned by Mondelez International Tobelrone is a 126 year’s chocolate producing confectionary group based at Switzerland.Way back in 1908 the company’s founder had created an unique recipe that consisted of milk chocolate honey almonds and doughnuts. For the first time a shape was also given to the chocolate which was a triangle.

Some of the hot selling items of Toblerone are plain dark chocolate, white chocolate almond mixes etc.

4.Herseyes-

The Pennsylvania based company formed in 1894 is one of the greatest players in the chocolate industry globally. Hershey chocolates are available in each and every corner of the USA and also in sixty nations throughout the world.

Some of the widely popular items that Hershey produces are milk chocolate, milk chocolate with almonds, special dark chocolate with almonds, cookies extra dark chocolates, almond bar chocolates and a host of other mouth savouring items. As a part of Its social responsibility initiatives, Hershey has been associated with Clinton Global Initiatives and Elizabeth Town College in their pursuit to take education down to the underprivileged children.

3.Ferrero Rocher –

Based in Italy the brand is specialising in a chocolate cum hazelnut combination which is a very big craze amongst its consumers. The brand was launched in several parts of the globe in 1942 which saw success at its very inception. In 1988 the brand was formally launched in USA amidst great fanfare.

The brand was a hit in the USA right from its start and today it has carved out a niche for itself in the minds of its loyal customers. The production processes is so very secretive that no staff members is allowed inside the production room with his / her mobile phones, laptop or for that matter any communication vehicle.

2. Cadbury–

The British confectionery group founded almost 196 years back is the second largest confectionery group in the world after Mars Inc. In fact Cadbury dairy milk chocolate is almost synonymous with any brand of chocolate anywhere.

Currently Mondelez International is the owner of the brand. The US operations are carried out in the name of Cadbury Adams after the later brand was acquired from Pfizer in 2002. The US operation is headquartered in New Jersey.

Incidentally the products with the brand name of Cadbury are manufactured by another Chocolate major, Hershey for the American market.

1. Lindt-

Lindt is undoubtedly the top chocolate brand. Amongst its more important subsidiaries is Ghirardelli another famous brand. Since 1899 the company is known as Lindt and Sprungli .

In 1989 Lindt made one of the finest gourmet chocolate called Lindt Excellence prepared from the world’s finest cocoa beans. Today its products are sold in 80 countries in four continents and its products continue to be made from the finest procured cocoa beans

Some of the best known items are truffles, bars and sticks, box chocolates, classic recipe bars, milk chocolates. Their Easter eggs and Easter collections are a real sensation nationally.