Hong Kong China's Chocolate And Cocoa Confectionery Industry And Competitive Landscape 2023

Updated: January 03, 2024

Industry Landscape

In 2022, Hong Kong SAR China's imports of chocolate and confectionery containing cocoa (HS code 1806) amounted to USD 299 million (down 13.5% YoY) in dollar terms more than double the USD 139 million (down 19% YoY) exported the same year. In volume terms, imports amounted to 32.7 million kilograms (down 12.6% YoY), more than double the 13 million kilograms (down 22.5% YoY) exported the same year.

At nearly 2 kilograms per person, per capita chocolate consumption in Hong Kong SAR China, is relatively high by Asian standards (most Asian countries like Mainland China, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia consume less than one kilogram of chocolate per person). However, Hong Kong SAR China still lags western countries like the UK (10 kilograms person) despite considerably higher per capita incomes (in 2022, Hong Kong SAR China's per capita GDP on a PPP basis amounted to USD 69,072 compared with USD 54,929 for the United Kingdom) reflecting room for growth.

Hong Kong SAR China imports virtually all raw materials related to chocolate production, primarily cocoa beans (HS code 1801) and cocoa powder (HS code 1805). Imports of cocoa butter (HS code 1804) were negligible and imports of cocoa paste were nil.

Cocoa cultivation is also negligble in Hong Kong SAR China (FAOSTAT has no data on cocoa acreage). Just a few farms exist in the region such as those managed by local tree-to-bar chocolatier Chocobien.

Production innovations combining traditional deserts and baked goods (such as mooncakes) with chocolate is becoming popular.
Chocolate remains a popular festive gift, particularly during Christmas and Valentine's Day. Google search interest for chocolate typically spikes during these periods.

Belgian luxury chocolate brand Godiva offers an assortment of chocolate products in Hong Kong including chocolate caraques, boxed chocolates, dragees, and chocolate-based desserts like biscuits, beverages, cakes, and ice cream. Channels include the company's direct-to-consumer online store on their website, and offline locations including Godiva stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and duty-free stores.
Recent developments:
- New product launches include a collection in collaboration with Disney based on Disney's blockbuster movie Frozen, G Pearls Chocolate Bean collection in four flavors, and Chocolate Carré in two flavors. Seasonal releases include new collections and truffle flavors for Christmas, collections for Halloween, Mid Autumn Festival, Mother's Day, Spring, Valentine's Day, and Chinese New Year.
- Dessert launches include cakes for Christmas, breads in collaboration with A-1 Bakery, mooncakes for Mid Autumn Festival, and a dessert collection for Valentine's Day (consisting of ice cream, beverage, chocolate-covered strawberries, and cake).
- At least three new stores were opened during the year as part of channel expansion efforts. Additionally, at least two stores were refurbished.
- Marketing efforts during the year included discounts and buy-one-get-one-free promotions across chocolate and dessert offerings (at least 10 such promotions were announced during the year including seasonal and new store opening day promotions).

Bean-to-bar chocolatier Chocobien offers an assortment of products largely comprised of chocolate caraques and tablets sold under a portfolio of brands such as Fitcho (sugar-free), Kusa (aged chocolate), as well as their flagship Chocobien brand. Other products include cacao whiskey. They differentiate themselves through a number of angles notably in their focus on chocolate caraques typically marketed as pairing accompaniments (to drinks such as tea, and champagne), along with products with highly unique flavor characteristics such as aged chocolates, and localized flavors such as Sichuan Pepper.
Recent developments:
- New chocolate products launched during the year include two new chocolate square flavors (Cuyagua, Wu Liang Ye). Seasonal releases include chocolate rose gift boxes for Valentine's Day.
- Chocolate caraques were rolled out for Peru Ucayali and Nicaragua Chuno, in response to customer requests for those flavors in tasting sizes.
- Dessert launches include chocolate mooncakes for Mid Autumn Festival.
- A milestone for Chocobien as their cacao farm in Hong Kong bore their first cacao pods this year.
- Marketing initiatives include pop-up stalls, webinars, and workshops.
- Channels were expanded to include restaurant Taste Beyond,

Homegrown bean-to-bar chocolate brand Conspiracy Chocolate produces and sells chocolate bars, bon bons, cacao tea, and hot cocoa to retail and corporate customers. Other cocoa-based products include chocolate liquers, Channels include foodservice locations (such as Intervals Bar at Hong Kong International Airport) as well as their direct-to-consumer online store on their website.
Recent developments:
- New product launches include new chocolate tablet flavors (Pink Swirl, SPQR Rum Infused 75% single origin from Dak Lak, mezcal-infused)
- Seasonal launches include new collections for Chinese New Year, Easter (including chocolate figurines such as chocolate eggs and bunnies), and Winter, chocolate mooncakes for Mid Autumn Festival, and a fiery hot chili chocolate bar for Halloween in collaboration with Hong Kong hot sauce brand FIYAH! Heat Store,
- Marketing initiatives include pop-up stores, cacao-centered dinner events, workshops, tasting events, giveaways, as well as seasonal promotions (such as Easter egg hunts and Christmas market stalls). Strategic partnerships for marketing efforts leaned towards partners in the alcohol industry (such as La Cabane Wine Cellar, The Whiskey Library, COA Hong Kong, and Mandarin Oriental Bar Hong Kong).
- Channel expansion efforts reached a milestone with Conspiracy Chocolate hitting the shelves at Hong Kong premium retail store City Super.

Founded eight years ago, local chocolate maker Bel-Zims is a relatively small but fast-growing player. Their product offering includes boxed chocolates, and snacks such as chocolate dipped fruits, chocolate-covered coffee beans, and chocolate crisps. Channels consist of their direct-to-consumer online store on their website, and their newly opened in-mall retail store (opened in 2023).
Recent developments:
- New product launches (non-seasonal) include matcha pralines, and rose pralines. Seasonal releases include themed offerings for New Year, Valentine's Day, and Christmas.
- Bel-Zims opened their first physical retail store in November 2023 as part of channel expansion efforts.
- Marketing initiatives include pop-up events (at least once but typically several times every month) and trade shows.