The turnover of Switzerland’s 16 chocolate manufacturers hit CHF1.7 billion ($1.8 billion) last year, an increase of 11.8% compared with 2020, the Association of Swiss Chocolate Manufacturers (Chocosuisse) reportedExternal link on Tuesday.
However, turnover remains 4.2% below the pre-crisis level of 2019.
Domestic chocolate sales rose by 7.7% in 2021 compared with the previous year, but were still significantly below the level of 2019 (-8.4%).
Meanwhile, export volumes of Swiss chocolate rose 10.8% in 2021, with revenues rising 15.5% to CHF926 million, Chocosuisse said.
Germany (25,689 tonnes), France (12,948 tonnes), Canada (11,791 tonnes), Britain (10,535 tonnes) and the United States (7,837 tonnes) were the main markets for Swiss chocolate last year.
At the same time, imports of non-Swiss chocolate continue to rise. The share of foreign chocolate in the Swiss market was around 42% last year, up from 34% in 2011. It seems this is partly due to a rise in the consumption of imported chocolate – from 4 kilos to 4.7 kilos per capita. The other is a drop in the consumption of Swiss chocolate in Switzerland from 8 to 6.6 kilos per capita over the past decade.
Chocosuisse includes chocolate manufacturers such as Nestlé (Cailler), Lindt&Sprüngli, Barry Callebaut, Camille Bloch, Favarger, Villars, Sprüngli, Maestrani, Stella and Läderach.
More
More
Can China help African cocoa producers outmanoeuvre Big Chocolate?
This content was published on
Poor returns are driving cocoa-producing countries Ivory Coast and Ghana to China for funding and a new marketplace.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Legal action filed against Swiss purchase of Israeli drones
This content was published on
Legal action aims to put an end to the delivery of the six Elbit reconnaissance drones already plagued by delays and setbacks.
Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures
This content was published on
The scrub encroachment on Swiss alpine pastures leads to the loss of grassland and damages the typical landscape. It is also responsible for the decline in biodiversity. Despite higher direct payments, the bushes continue to spread.
Head of Swiss financial regulator’s Banks division quits
This content was published on
Thomas Hirschi, head of the Banks division of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA will leave at the end of August.
Swiss population satisfied with life according to survey
This content was published on
In a survey, the population of German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland expressed general satisfaction with their lives. Respondents were less happy with politics and their personal finances, according to the online comparison service Moneyland.
WHO ‘extremely concerned’ about growing vaccination scepticism
This content was published on
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), vaccination scepticism and a collapse in funding for vaccination campaigns pose a major threat to the health of the world's population.
High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
This content was published on
The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.
Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
This content was published on
Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.
Swiss chocolate consumption dips to lowest levels in 40 years
This content was published on
For the first time since 1982, average annual chocolate consumption in Switzerland has fallen below the 10 kg per person mark.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.