Dark chocolate is a delicious treat that many people enjoy. People use dark chocolate in many ways like baking, cooking, and eating it as a snack.
The people who love dark chocolate really love it for its intense flavor. Dark chocolate has a higher percentage of cacao, which gives it a stronger flavor than milk chocolate.
But dark chocolate is not to everyone’s liking. There are many who find it too bitter.
So who is the real target market for dark chocolate? Who loves this treat so much.
In this article, we will answer this question by looking at the many reasons why people buy and devour dark chocolate.
Who Is The Target Market for Dark Chocolate?
To best understand the target market for dark chocolate, we need to first understand the reasons why someone buys dark chocolate instead of some other snack or even another type of chocolate.
By understanding people’s motivations for wanting dark chocolate, we can divide this market into customer segments and study each segment on its own.
This needs-based segmentation allows chocolate makers to create dark chocolate products with the right tastes, textures, and prices to meet the needs of each segment of the market.
This analysis gives us the following market segments for dark chocolate:
- People who love to eat dark chocolate
- People who use dark chocolate in baking/cooking
- People who give dark chocolate as a gift
- People who make chocolate fondue
- Pastry chefs
As you can see, the target market for dark chocolate is quite diverse. Each segment has different reasons for wanting dark chocolate and will therefore have different needs.
Chocolate makers need to be aware of these needs in order to create products that will appeal to their target market.
Let’s look at each segment in more detail.
1. People Who Love to Eat Dark Chocolate
This segment is made up of people who just love the taste of dark chocolate. When they need a delicious treat that they can enjoy, dark chocolate is their go-to option.
People in this segment appreciate the deep flavors of dark chocolate and the various textures that can be made with it.
In most cases, these aficionados of dark chocolate are willing to pay more for premium brands like Cote d’Or, Lindt and Godiva.
2. People Who Use Dark Chocolate in Baking / Cooking
Both home bakers and professional bakers often turn to dark chocolate for its intense flavor and its decorative appeal.
Bakers use dark chocolate in a variety of recipes, from cakes and cookies to brownies and truffles.
They may also use it to make chocolate chips or chocolate bars which can both be great snacks.
Dark chocolate can also be found in savory dishes like mole sauces and chili.
Dark chocolate used for cooking doesn’t have to be as high quality as the dark chocolate that people eat on its own.
Bakers and cooks are usually looking for dark chocolate that has a good flavor but is also affordable.
3. People who give dark chocolate as a gift
Dark chocolate makes a great gift for a variety of occasions. Whether it’s for a birthday, Christmas, or just because, dark chocolate is always appreciated.
Using Dark chocolate for gifts in different forms is also customary in many parts of the world. For instance, during Easter, in some parts of Europe, it’s common to give chocolate eggs filled with dark chocolate or to find Easter bunnies made from dark chocolate.
When giving dark chocolate as a gift, people usually go for premium brands that come in beautiful packaging.
4. People who make chocolate fondue
Chocolate Fondue is a dish made of melted chocolate in which fruit, marshmallows, and other foods are dipped.
Dark chocolate with its intense flavor is a popular choice for making chocolate fondue.
Chocolate fondue can be made with different types of dark chocolate, depending on the desired result.
For a richer fondue, bakers often use chocolate with a higher percentage of cocoa.
5. Pastry chefs
Pastry chefs often use dark chocolate in their recipes because of its intense flavor.
They also appreciate the fact that dark chocolate can be used in many different ways, from being melted and poured over a cake to being used as decoration.
Another thing that pastry chefs like about dark chocolate is that it can be easily molded into different shapes.
Conclusion
The target market for dark chocolate is very broad because many people love this treat for a variety of reasons.
The most common segment of this market includes people who simply love the taste of dark chocolate. They like the intense flavor that comes from having sufficient cocoa in their chocolate.
Chefs and bakers also use dark chocolate because of its strong taste and its ability to work as a decorative substance.
People who love chocolate always love dark chocolate, beautifully wrapped as a gift.
Dark chocolate can also be at the center stage of a meal, like when it is used in chocolate fondue.
And finally, pastry chefs use dark chocolate in a variety of ways to add taste and life to their culinary creations.