"This is an important move for us in our attempts to move into the chocolate spread market, as All Crump is currently the third biggest chocolate spread company in Europe in terms of product volume," said a spokesperson for Natra. With the addition of the chocolate spread category for €45m, Natra intends to complete its portfolio of products that are aimed principally at the European market. According to Natra, the market for chocolate spread is one of the fastest growing sectors in Europe, totalling 500m tonnes and growing at a rate of 4.5 per cent per year. These acquisitions will reinforce Natra's position in the markets in Belgium and Spain, as well as in the UK, where a lot of chocolate spread is sold, Natra produces 45,000 tonnes of cocoa and chocolate products each year, and recorded profits of €380m in 2007. Every year the company sells nearly 500m chocolate products in Europe; 400m flavoured chocolate products, 80m chocolate bars and 18m boxes of chocolates.
