Domestic Chocolate Consumption Down

In 2005 Croatian chocolate manufactures enjoyed a 57% market share in the country, today that has dropped to 37% as consumers more and more turn to foreign brands.

Croatian confectionery companies have dropped production from 32,000 tonnes of chocolate in 1989, to 18-19,000 tonnes today, of which around 10,000 is sold on the domestic market, and around 8,500 tonnes exported each year, reports daily Vecernji list.

Consumption of chocolate from pre-war days in Croatia has more than doubled from 13,500 tonnes per year, to 28,000 tonnes a year, meaning around 18,000 tonnes of imported chocolates are being consumed each year.

“Entry into the EU will certainly mean that the position of domestic producers of chocolate will certainly get worse, and the state, which is the director of the situation, reckless is not taking this into account, said Stipan Bilic, who represents the confectionery industry in Croatia,” said Bilic.