Unpublished study of industry expansion points Abicab of premium chocolate

The Abicab (Associação Brasileira da Indústria de Chocolates, cocoa, peanuts, hard candies and derivatives) presents a study on the potential for unprecedented expansion of premium chocolate industry in Brazil. Above-average growth in the country, generating jobs and promoting the small and medium-sized enterprises are some of the results arising from the expansion of this market opportunity. Titled "exploratory study of Premium Chocolate market", the work involves the analysis of 764 municipalities in the five Brazilian regions, each with at least 20 thousand inhabitants and a chocolate shop. The material also shows that 60% of shops are present in the Southeast. The entity mapped 3,254 premium chocolate shops, being 76% of them franchises and 24% of independent stores or licensed. According to the study, there is room for the sector reach 7,305 stores by 2020, which equates to an expansion of 14% per year from 2014. "The goal refers both to the expansion of current players as the new entry in the segment. This movement will be driven by the middle class, which has been sustaining the strong growth of the sector a few years ago, because you want to more sophisticated products, "says Caio Tomazeli, Director of premium chocolate Abicab.
To achieve the goal, the study foresees an investment of approximately R $ 324 million in setting up shop in six years, whereas in each store to be invested R $ 80,000. It is expected that the sector reach an annual sales of $ 2.9 billion in 2018, the retail prices – in 2014, the annual revenue was estimated at $ 2.4 billion, representing a growth of 26%.
"The entire production chain of chocolate will benefit, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, which had been highlighted in the manufacture and marketing of premium product," says Tomazeli. "In the case of entrepreneurs who want to have shops and make your own chocolate, the investment required is $ 300,000, a figure considered inviting, in view of the return being obtained."
Within the expansion scenario, it is expected to be generated from 18 thousand to 20 thousand direct and indirect jobs across the country. "Beyond the middle class, the seasonal dates, have been another factor that drives the growth of the premium sector and, consequently, the opening of vacancies," recalls Tomazeli. The product is an option of this increasingly common in Easter celebrations, mother's day and Valentine's day. "It's a change of habit of recent use and that will impact the search for labor in factories and shops."
The premium chocolate segment has been growing at a rate of 20% per year, reaching today approximately 30 thousand tons annually, out of a total of 473 thousand tons of chocolate produced in the country. "We estimate that the size of this market niche is of 6% to 8% of the chocolate consumed in Brazil. For industry and retailers, that means more business opportunities; for the consumer, represents the diversification of the offer of top quality products, "sums up Tomazeli.
The productive chain of the sector met on 3rd Febrachoco, which takes place today in Gramado (RS). Exhibitors of Chocolates, ice cream, raw materials, packaging, technologies, among others, presented their innovations to an audience of X thousand visitors. "We also had presentations and workshops with renowned chefs, to attract the final consumer, and a gourmet chocolate recipes contest that awarded the winner with a trip to the Chocolate salon in Paris," concludes Tomazeli. More information can be obtained on the website www.febrachoco.com.br.