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Specialty Chocolate Stores in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Disha Kartik Jeswanth Disha Kartik Jeswanth Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: June 2024 ANZSIC OD5411

Revenue

$343.5m

2024-25

$348.9m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

3,032

Businesses

551

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Specialty Chocolate Stores in Australia industry analysis

Rising premiumisation trends among consumers have supported incomes for specialty chocolate stores. Growing health consciousness has also benefited stores as consumers have opted for healthier premium chocolates. However, competition and spiralling costs have placed stress on some stores, with major player Max Brenner closing over half its outlets in 2018-19, contributing to a sharp fall in revenue. The COVID-19 pandemic also disrupted demand for specialty chocolates since March 2020. The current cost-of-living crisis has added to these effects with fluctuations in discretionary income and consumer sentiment limiting high-margin, premium chocolate sales. Overall, revenue is declining by an annualised 0.4% over the five years through 2023-24, to $343.5.0 million.

Trends and Insights

  • Cost-of-living pressures have weighed on industry growth. As specialty chocolate is a highly discretionary item, customers have cut back their spending, hurting industry businesses.
  • Chocolatiers are selling organic and fair trade products. This way, specialty stores can attract customers who are ethically concerned and justify higher prices.
  • States with lower population densities are generally underrepresented in their share of specialty chocolate stores. Specialty stores tend to be more successful when situated near large population centres.
  • Supermarkets and grocery stores can offer cheaper mass-produced chocolates. Specialty stores can emphasise their value-added production methods to maintain customers.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $343.5m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Supermarkets and department stores have become significant sources of external competition

  • High-end department stores have increased their range of diverse, boutique-branded chocolate products. Supermarkets have also expanded their chocolate product lines, which has been a major concern for specialty chocolate stores.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Specialty Chocolate Stores in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Attitudes towards healthy eating and ethical sourcing will set the scene for specialty chocolate sales

  • Shopper demand for healthier, premium chocolate products, supported by a rise in health consciousness, will play an important role in determining the industry's performance going forward.

Biggest companies in the Specialty Chocolate Stores in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Haigh's Chocolate
62.1
Venga
60.5
Lindt
32.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Specialty Chocolate Stores in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Premium chocolate, Seasonal and boxed chocolate and Other products. Premium chocolate is the largest segment of the Specialty Chocolate Stores in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Cost-of-living pressures are constraining income from premium chocolates

  • Premium chocolates can be sold as individual chocolates, blocks or in a range of other forms.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Specialty chocolate stores are primarily engaged in retailing chocolate and chocolate products. The industry includes specialty and boutique chocolate stores that also retail products like hot chocolate, cakes and pastries. Supermarkets, department stores and online only operators are excluded from the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Premium chocolatesSeasonal and boxed chocolatesFood and beveragesNuts Lollies

Companies

Haigh's ChocolateVengaLindt

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

ARTISAN CHOCOLATESCHOCOLATIERPOINT OF SALECONCHING

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 1182 - Specialty Chocolate Stores in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Cost-of-living pressures have weighed on industry growth. As specialty chocolate is a highly discretionary item, customers have cut back their spending, hurting industry busi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Chocolatiers are selling organic and fair trade products. This way, specialty stores can attract customers who are ethically concerned and justify higher prices.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

States with lower population densities are generally underrepresented in their share of specialty chocolate stores. Specialty stores tend to be more successful when situated ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Supermarkets and grocery stores can offer cheaper mass-produced chocolates. Specialty stores can emphasise their value-added production methods to maintain customers.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Larger specialty chocolate stores used online sales to keep themselves afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stores introduced takeaway and delivery services that are still in...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Haigh's Chocolate's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Venga's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Lindt's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Haigh's Chocolate, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Venga, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Lindt, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry is highly sensitive to discretionary income changes. A fall in discretionary income has curbed industry revenue as people have been hesitant to spend on specialt...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Declining sales volumes have hurt profit. Cost-of-living pressures and intermittent lockdowns prevented some customers from shopping at specialty chocolate stores.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Specialty Chocolate Stores industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Specialty Chocolate Stores industry in Australia is $343.5m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Specialty Chocolate Stores in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 551 businesses in the Specialty Chocolate Stores industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Specialty Chocolate Stores industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Specialty Chocolate Stores industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Specialty Chocolate Stores industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Specialty Chocolate Stores industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Specialty Chocolate Stores market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Specialty Chocolate Stores market in Australia are Haigh's Chocolate, Venga and Lindt

What does the Specialty Chocolate Stores in Australia include?

Premium chocolates and Seasonal and boxed chocolates are part of the Specialty Chocolate Stores industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Specialty Chocolate Stores in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Haigh's Chocolate.

How competitive is the Specialty Chocolate Stores industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Specialty Chocolate Stores industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Bread and Cake Retailing in Australia
  • Convenience Stores in Australia
  • Cafes and Coffee Shops in Australia

Complementors

  • Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing in Australia
  • Sugar Manufacturing in Australia

International industries

  • Chocolate Stores in the US
  • Chocolate Production in Canada

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.