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Chocolate Stores in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Federico Irigoyen Federico Irigoyen New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS OD5339

Revenue

$1.5bn

2024

$1.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

16,124

Businesses

7,107

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Chocolate Stores in the US industry analysis

Chocolate stores in the US have experienced a dynamic period marked by shifts in consumer preferences, economic fluctuations and evolving market trends. Over the past few years, the industry has seen challenges and opportunities, with a notable hike in demand for premium and artisanal chocolates. This surge has been fueled by a growing consumer interest in unique, high-quality products and an emphasis on ethical sourcing. The pandemic initially disrupted supply chains and store operations, but many chocolate retailers adapted by enhancing their online presence and offering delivery services. As a result, chocolate stores have recovered and found new ways to engage with their customers, setting the stage for continued growth. Still, revenue will weaken at a CAGR of 0.8% to $1.5 billion over the five years to 2024, including 0.5% growth in 2024 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Uncertain economic conditions slow retail sales. Rising inflation and weakening consumer sentiment have particularly impacted chocolate sales, causing significant harm to retailers.
  • Milk chocolate remains the most popular product. This is mainly driven by the seasonal popularity of milk chocolate, particularly during Halloween, Christmas and Easter.
  • Remaining near highly populated areas gives retailers access to more customers. This has caused many retailers to base operations in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and West.
  • Chocolate stores compete with traditional retailers, like supermarkets and convenience stores. This trend is prevalent for milk chocolate seasonal products and among younger consumers.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Chocolates with a conscience and the rise of health-conscious indulgence

  • Consumers are increasingly seeking chocolates with lower sugar content, natural ingredients and associated health benefits, reflecting a broader trend towards health-conscious indulgence.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Chocolate Stores in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Improving economic conditions support sales

  • As personal income levels climb, demand for premium and luxury chocolates will expand, driving consumer interest in high-quality chocolate products from renowned brands.

Biggest companies in the Chocolate Stores in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG
212.9
44.8
21.1
See's Candies
161.7
16.8
10.4

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Chocolate Stores in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Milk chocolate, Dark chocolate and White chocolate. Milk chocolate is the largest segment of the Chocolate Stores in the US.

Trends and Insights

Milk chocolate sales thrive during the holidays

  • Milk chocolate plays a pivotal role in producing seasonal confections, such as Easter, Halloween and Christmas candies, driving substantial spikes in demand during these festive periods. This seasonal market reliance ensures steady annual revenue boosts for manufacturers focused on holiday-themed products.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry includes specialty shops and boutiques that retail chocolate products to consumers. Supermarkets, department stores, drug stores, mass merchandisers and online retailers are excluded from this industry. Establishments such as coffee shops, bakeries and franchise retail establishments that sell chocolate products also are excluded from this industry.

What's included in this industry?

Retailing premium chocolatesRetailing seasonal chocolatesRetailing nonpremium chocolates

Companies

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AGSee's Candies

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

COCOABOXED CHOCOLATECHOCOLATE BARKDARK CHOCOLATEPREMIUMSEASONALNONEMPLOYER

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 44529 - Chocolate Stores in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Uncertain economic conditions slow retail sales. Rising inflation and weakening consumer sentiment have particularly impacted chocolate sales, causing significant harm to ret...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Milk chocolate remains the most popular product. This is mainly driven by the seasonal popularity of milk chocolate, particularly during Halloween, Christmas and Easter.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Remaining near highly populated areas gives retailers access to more customers. This has caused many retailers to base operations in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and West.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Chocolate stores compete with traditional retailers, like supermarkets and convenience stores. This trend is prevalent for milk chocolate seasonal products and among younger ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Large retailers improve their e-commerce capabilities. By adapting to changing consumer preferences, retailers can ensure a seamless transition to online sales.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of See's Candies's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for See's Candies, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Local and state agencies offer economic development grants. These grants help chocolate stores enhance facilities, invest in local projects, and improve product offerings, bo...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Rising cocoa prices cause purchase costs to jump. A global cocoa shortage and disrupted supply chains have negatively impacted chocolate producers, making chocolate more expe...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Chocolate Stores in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Chocolate Stores in the US industry in United States is $1.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Chocolate Stores in the US industry in 2024?

There are 7,107 businesses in the Chocolate Stores in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Chocolate Stores in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Chocolate Stores in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Chocolate Stores in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Chocolate Stores in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Chocolate Stores in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Chocolate Stores market in United States are Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG and See's Candies

What does the Chocolate Stores in the US in United States include?

Retailing premium chocolates and Retailing seasonal chocolates are part of the Chocolate Stores in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Chocolate Stores in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG.

How competitive is the Chocolate Stores in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Chocolate Stores in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Candy Production in the US
  • Specialty Food Stores in the US

Complementors

  • Chocolate Production in the US
  • Confectionery Wholesaling in the US

International industries

  • Specialty Food Stores in Canada
  • Specialised Grocery Retailing in New Zealand
  • Organic Food Retailing in the UK

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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