Chocolate and cocoa can be found in so many different U.S. industries. Such products are used in the confectionery, beverage, dairy, bakery, and personal care arenas, just to name a few.
New products are being introduced at a record pace in spite of the U.S. chocolate market being considered mature. It continues to be a market place that embraces creative and innovative products.
The current market supports such variety in chocolates that it can satisfy a diverse group of consumers while at the same time keeping prices affordable.
That may change. Prices are speculated to increase drastically in the near future due to a recent, astonishingly bold move by a British Company called Armajaro Holdings.
Armajaro Holdings is a commodities and financial services business based in London. Earlier this summer Armajaro purchased 240,000 tons of cocoa beans – which is about 7% of the annual global production of cacao!
At the time of Armajaro’s purchase, cocoa beans were already commanding a high price.
Currently however, cocoa bean prices are dipping slightly. But many large chocolate manufacturers are convinced they will see them rise overall.
The cocoa world is watching carefully.
Sources: Market Wire, Wall Street Journal
