Indians develop a taste for dark chocolate as household demand jumps 45 pc
Households in India are increasingly purchasing dark chocolate, with a significant rise in demand over recent years. Urban consumers account for the majority of dark chocolate purchases, driven by rising incomes and health awareness. The growth is supported by trends in quick-commerce, making premium products more accessible. Despite its growth, dark chocolate remains a small segment in India's larger confectionery market.
Mumbai: Indians are developing a taste for dark chocolate , with the number of households buying it rising 45% in the year ended August as demand for premium indulgences grows, data from Worldpanel by Numerator showed. This followed growth of 28.2% in 2024 and 11.3% in 2025, highlighting a sharp pickup in household adoption of the premium segment. Dark chocolate's household penetration stood at 8.5%, with urban consumers accounting for 87% of purchases for home consumption, indicating that the category remains concentrated in cities despite its rapid growth. "Rising disposable incomes, aspirations and greater awareness are driving this evolution in consumer palate and acceleration in premiumisation," said Hemant Malik, chief executive of ITC Foods, which makes Fabelle chocolates, comparing the shift with premiumisation trends seen in categories such as coffee. Advt
Exposure to Global Trends Dark chocolate, defined as that containing more than 50% cocoa, remains a small part of India's roughly 15,000-crore market for the confection. Chocolate consumption is also low at about 200 grams per person annually, compared with more than 10 kg in the UK, leaving room for growth but highlighting the gap in habits.
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