The chocolate market will be worth $205 billion by 2030 - and more brands want a piece.
But you can't break into the industry by simply launching a standard candy bar. When you're up against confectionery giants with decades of brand loyalty, you need to bring something fresh, exciting and meaningful to the table.
Here are 11 brands doing exactly that, each with their own unique recipe for success...
1. Tony’s Chocolonely
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When was the last time your chocolate bar made you think about social justice? That's exactly what Tony's Chocolonely does with every unequally divided bar they produce.
This Dutch ethical brand isn't just talk - they're seeing serious growth, with global sales topping €200 million in 2024. Their US sales doubled in just 12 months. The secret? Combining creative flavours with a powerful mission to create slave-free chocolate supply chain.
2. LoveRaw
"Chocolate first, vegan second" - that's the motto driving LoveRaw's success in the plant-based confectionery market. Founded by husband-and-wife team Rimi and Manav Thapar, they're proving that vegan chocolate doesn't mean compromising on taste.
Their personality shines through everything they do, from caricatures of the founders on packaging to releasing a cheeky mockumentary encouraging consumers to 'give two fingers to big choc'. They're clearly hitting the sweet spot: in 2024, LoveRaw was named of Europe’s fastest-growing companies in the FT 1000 ranking.
3. COCO Chocolatier
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When COCO Chocolatier says they're "where creativity and cocoa collide," they mean it. Each bar is like a work of art - both inside and out. Their hand-painted packaging houses experimental flavours like carrot cake milk chocolate and cinammon roll dark chocolate.
But don't let the beautiful wrapping fool you; this is no style over substance story. They're committed to using 100% natural ingredients and sustainable production methods.
4. Moo Free
Who says dairy-free can't be delicious? Moo Free started with a focus on children's chocolate but has expanded into adult confectionery with impressive results. Their dairy, gluten and soya-free range now includes everything from full-size bars to truffles and baking chocolate.
Their innovation extends beyond recipes, too. Moo Free recently developed a revolutionary traceability system that's helping drive their expansion across major UK retailers, contributing to 20% growth in 2023.
5. Monty Bojangles
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Curiously Moreish is a promise Monty Bojangles delivers on. With products like 'Orange Angelical' and 'Ruby Fruit Sunday', they've brought much-needed imagination to the traditional chocolate gifting market.
Their focus on truffles sets them apart, and it's working. They've been named second best brand in the chocolate & confectionery category by The Guild of Fine Food.
6. H!P
When your great-great-great grandfather is John Cadbury, you've got big shoes to fill. James Cadbury's plant-based brand H!P is doing just that with their oat milk chocolate range.
H!P isn't afraid to push the flavour boundaries: in December 2024 it released a limited edition ‘Figs in Blankets’ chocolate bar made from oat milk, sweet figs and a salty vegan bacon seasoning.
7. Bar of Crisps
Ever found yourself torn between sweet and savory? Bar of Crisps has the answer with their crisp-flavoured chocolate bars. Yes, you read that right - ready salted, salt & vinegar and cheese & onion chocolate.
Created by Chocolate Moments UK, these unusual combinations are creating quite a buzz among food bloggers and influencers, and the founder even appeared on UK television series Dragon's Den.
8. Willie’s Cacao
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Premium chocolate isn't just about a higher cocoa content - it's about sourcing unique beans and crafting something special. Willie's Cacao gets this, working with single estates to create sophisticated chocolate products.
Founder Willie Harcourt-Cooze's journey from Venezuelan cacao farm to UK's first bean-to-bar chocolate factory shows how passion can drive innovation.
9. PLAYin CHOC
Who says healthy can't be fun? PLAYin CHOC combines organic, refined sugar-free chocolate with educational toys, all wrapped in sustainable packaging.
With over 40 international awards under their belt (including Best Vegan Milk Chocolate and World's Best Plant Based Chocolate), they're proving that success can be both playful and purposeful. From their UK facility, they've sold over two million units and are now poised for major expansion across the retail, travel and educational sectors.
10. Friis-Holm
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When Mikkel Friis-Holm says he wants to be one of the top three chocolate makers in the world, he's not just talking about taste. His motto - "best in the world, best for the world" - drives everything about this Danish chooclate brand.
It's a story that began in the late 1990s, where Mikkel's passion for chocolate led him to Nicaragua's cacao farms. Now, from his factory in Denmark, he's redefining what premium chocolate means. By working directly with farmers and paying significantly above market rates, Friis-Holm creates exceptional chocolate while ensuring fair treatment of growers.
11. Fellow Creatures
Last but definitely not least is a Fellow Creatures: a chooclate brand that puts its money where its mouth is.
Fellow Creatures pays 60% above the industry average for their cocoa, and every ingredient can be traced back to its source farm in Ghana. Their commitment to ethical production recently earned them B Lab certification, showing success and sustainability can go hand in hand.
Grow your confectionery brand without losing its DNA
What these brands share is a clear identity and proposition: essential ingredients in the competitive confectionery market. But scaling up brings new challenges, from compliance issues to maintaining brand integrity across different markets.
These hurdles can slow your growth if they're not handled properly.
That's where Hooley Brown comes in. We help brands scale up and enter new markets while keeping your USP intact. Our goal? Making sure you're ready to seize sales opportunities, wherever they arise.
Get in touch with Hooley Brown to learn more about our services or follow us on LinkedIn for more industry insights.
This blog post was written in February 2022 and updated in February 2025. Facts were correct at the time of writing.