Chocolate snacks help us to reconnect to the past, with over half (51%) of the adult Irish population and over 55% of those aged 16 – 34 who eat chocolate snacks agreeing that they remind them of fond childhood memories.
While Cadbury Dairy Milk (selected by 24% of respondents) remains the nations favourite again this year followed by the Cadbury Twirl, invented in Coolock in 1985, and Cadbury Dairy Milk Golden Crisp bars, the research reveals that the types of chocolate snacks loved by the Irish is also evolving.
Two thirds (67%) of adults in Ireland who eat chocolate snacks agree that they like to try variations such as Twirl Orange or Twirl Mint. 25-44-year-olds are driving this trend with three out of four adults (75%) agreeing that they like to try new chocolate snacks.
Cadbury Dairy Milk remains the most popular chocolate bar in Ireland. The most popular Cadbury variations of the bar in Ireland are:
- Cadbury Dairy Milk
- Cadbury Dairy Milk Golden Crisp
- Cadbury Dairy Milk Wholenut
- Cadbury Dairy Milk Mint Crisp
- Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramello
- Cadbury Dairy Milk Turkish
- Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut
This adventurous spirit is also combining with consumers’ love of nostalgia and people are looking for “twists” on their childhood favourites.
Some of Cadbury’s most popular innovations are “twists” on the classic Cadbury Dairy Milk bar, with flavours like Cadbury Dairy Milk Golden Crisp making the top 10 most sold Cadbury products last year.
Evolving the Cadbury brand to adapt to consumer tastes extends beyond the development of new flavours and textures, and the research unwraps consumers’ changing snacking habits too, revealing that Ireland is a nation of “savers and sharers”.
Over half of adults who eat chocolate snacks (52%) say they would typically eat some and save some chocolate snacks for later.
Responding to this shift towards a more conscious enjoyment of chocolate, Cadbury introduced resealable packaging on the twin-bar duo range, in 2022, and sales of these products have increased by 123% in the past two years (2021-2023).
And this mindful trend continues at Cadbury with the launch of Cadbury Delights, the lower calorie (91 calories) chocolate range launched in January 2023.
36% of adults say they enjoy chocolate snacks with family members, 22% enjoy eating chocolates with friends, and only 8% of chocolate eaters surveyed admitted to enjoying their chocolate snacks alone.
Since the opening of its first factory in Ireland in 1933, Cadbury has delighted the nation with its confectionary and drinking chocolate.
It has been with people throughout Ireland for everyday celebrations and seasonal moments, earning a place in the hearts of generations.
