Project report for Chocolate Manufacturing

In India, Much of the chocolate consumed today is in the form of sweet chocolate, a combination of cocoa solids, cocoa butter or added vegetable oils, and sugar. Chocolate is one of the most popular food types and flavors in the world, and many foodstuffs involving chocolate exist, particularly desserts, including cakes, pudding, mousse, chocolate brownies, and chocolate chip cookies. Many candies are filled with or coated with sweetened chocolate. Chocolate bars, either made of solid chocolate or other ingredients coated in chocolate, are eaten as snacks. Another major factor driving the chocolate industry is the country’s large young population which represents a key consumer segment for chocolates. Milk chocolate is sweet chocolate that additionally contains milk powder or condensed milk. White chocolate contains cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, but no cocoa solids.

Chocolate is a preparation of roasted and ground cacao seeds that is made in the form of a liquid, paste, or in a block, which may also be used as a flavoring ingredient in other foods. The earliest signs of use are associated with Olmec sites suggesting consumption of chocolate beverages. The seeds of the cacao tree have an intense bitter taste and must be fermented to develop the flavor. After fermentation, the beans are dried, cleaned, and roasted. The shell is removed to produce cocoa nibs, which are then ground to cocoa mass, unadulterated chocolate in rough form. Once the cocoa mass is liquefied by heating, it is called chocolate liquor. The liquor may also be cooled and processed into its two components: cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Baking chocolate, also called bitter chocolate, contains cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions, without any added sugar.

The India chocolate market reached a value of INR 1420 Crores in 2020 with the country currently representing one of the world’s fastest growing markets for chocolates. India’s strong economic growth over the past decade has catalyzed the country’s per capita disposable incomes resulting in the strong growth of the chocolate industry. As a result, consumers are now buying chocolates for everyday consumption rather than just special occasions. Another major factor driving the chocolate industry is the country’s large young population which represents a key consumer segment for chocolates. Currently around half of the total population in India is below the age of 25 years and two thirds are below the age of 35 years. Other factors driving the market include changing lifestyles, westernization, growth of the food services sector, value addition, etc. Driven by these factor chocolates are replacing traditional sweets in the country.

The India Chocolate Market is growing appetite for premium chocolate and the availability of dark chocolate brands such as Lindt, Hershey, Toblerone among others has led to the increased market penetration for dark chocolates. Also, the low sugar content in the dark chocolates is another reason for propelling the demand of dark chocolates, as consumers have become aware of high sugar intake and its link with chronic diseases like diabetes. The consumers in India have been shifting their preference towards chocolate products over traditional sweets. The rising disposable income of the middle-class population in the country has affected the market space for the overall chocolate consumption.