With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, 87% of consumers in America said they’re planning to celebrate the occasion by sharing a gift of chocolate or candy.
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has revealed the nation’s favorite filling is caramel and that just 50% of chocolate lovers use the “map” in a heart-shaped box of chocolates to find their favorites, while 31% pick at random.
The remainder bites the corner to determine the chocolate’s filling (13%) or pokes at the bottom of the piece of chocolate (6%) to determine its contents.
When it comes to the most sought after filling, the NCA revealed that consumers largely chose caramel (32%), closely followed by nuts (24%) or a chocolate-based filling (21%).
“No matter your preference, sharing confectionery products on Valentine’s Day is a celebration of the power of chocolate and candy to bring people together,” said John Downs, NCA president & CEO. “Gifting these treats on Valentine’s Day is as iconic and tied to this moment as the heart-shaped box that so often marks the season.”
As with past special seasons, the NCA is providing fun facts and resources on Valentine’s Day Central as part of the confectionery industry’s commitment to helping people manage their sugar intake by providing consumers with smaller pack sizes, clear calorie labels and more information online.