Milk Chocolate sales increase

Through good times and bad the sales of milk chocolate candy are not affected by the economic trends in America .

Although Americans may hold off going to their favorite restaurant, they are still reaching for the sweet delicious taste of chocolate candy. In fact, it’s estimated that by 2011 the sales of chocolate in the U.S. will grow to $18 billion. Leading the way in sales today in the U.S. is milk chocolate candies, like M&M’s and Hershey’s Kissables , with 80 percent of all chocolate sales. With numbers like these, vending route operators and vending machine owners need to seriously consider having these products available in machines for their customers.

Most people think that the darker the chocolate, the better the quality, but that’s not always the case. Traditionally the higher the percentage of cocoa bean, the more intense and less sweet is the flavor. The truth is it’s not just cacao percentages that make a chocolate candy better, but also the overall quality that distinguishes the difference between a good and a great chocolate.

Milk chocolate must be at least 10 percent chocolate liquor by weight, and the trend today favors more than that amount, which gives a more chocolate flavor and less sweetness. So although there’s a lot of attention given to the darker varieties, Americans truly love milk chocolate candy.

What should you look for in a high-quality chocolate?

An attractive gloss, with the surface having a tight, even color. A pleasing aroma…if you rub the piece of chocolate it will release an aroma of milk, cream and malt. And when you eat it there should be a creamy feel in your mouth. And finally, we all have different taste buds, so the chocolate you pick should ultimately taste delicious!

You’ll find a variety of milk chocolate candies at candymachines.com.