Cargill helps the world’s food system work for you. We connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients and families with daily essentials—from the foods they eat to the floors they walk on. Our 160,000-plus team members around the world innovate with purpose, empowering our partners and communities as we work to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, sustainable way.

MINNEAPOLIS (June 14, 2021) — Reaffirming chocolate’s near universal appeal, a new survey from Cargill finds most Americans indulge in a chocolate-flavored treat every day. Viewed as a reward, mood lifter, energy booster and the secret to surviving a tough day, the company’s ChocoLogic™ research reveals consumers’ preferences, motivations and attitudes toward the decadent ingredient.\ The insights gleaned from this research give us – and our customers – a window into consumers’ attitudes and evolving expectations around this much-loved ingredient,”​ added Hadden.Given that most consumers enjoy a daily chocolate treat, it’s no surprise that three in four view chocolate as a way to reward oneself. Other motivations for indulging are less obvious. Seven in ten (72%) agree that chocolate lifts their mood, while 59% say it boosts their energy. The adage that ‘everyone loves chocolate’ really is true – less than 3% of consumers report avoiding chocolate,”​ said Gretchen Hadden, marketing lead for Cargill’s North American cocoa and chocolate business.

However, while chocolate may be the world’s most beloved ingredient, our research suggests consumers have strong opinions on what they like – and don’t like – about this timeless indulgence.”​ And while 45% of consumers surveyed said they were looking for new types of chocolate products, interest in classic flavor pairing won out -- 60% of respondents chose caramel and peanut butter as one of their top three favorite chocolate flavor pairings.

Join Ingredion for a practical conversation on how food and beverage brands are letting consumers eat cake AND feel good about their indulgent choices... The survey also revealed that interest in premium chocolate remains high. Consumers reported paying closer attention to claims around cacao content and provenance to judge chocolate quality, said Cargill. Consumers perceive products highlighting cocoa bean origin to be of higher quality The adage that ‘everyone loves chocolate’ really is true – less than 3% of consumers report avoiding chocolate,” said Gretchen Hadden, Marketing Lead for Cargill’s North American cocoa and chocolate business. “However, while chocolate may be the world’s most beloved ingredient, our research suggests consumers have strong opinions on what they like – and don’t like – about this timeless indulgence.” Three in four respondents said the primary reason for indulging in a daily chocolate treat was to reward oneself, while other motivations were less obvious, said Cargill.