Bean to bar chocolate producers in Brazil

Bean-to-bar chocolate is a chocolate made directly from high-quality cocoa beans, and can retain more flavor of the cocoa bean, as opposed to using processed forms like cocoa liquor or cocoa powder. The bean to bar movement has gained prominence in the chocolate industry, with new companies popping up all the time. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the Brazilian bean to bar chocolate industry. The methodology involved internet searches to identify the bean-to-bar chocolate producers in Brazil, and was carried out in July 2023. The sources included websites and apps specialized in bean to bar chocolate, in addition to Google and LinkedIn. Data were gathered from various online sources, including company websites, social media, and online retailers. It was found 132 companies, being 5 inactive. The bean to bar field is relatively new in Brazil, with the majority of companies founded in the past 10 years. The most active years for company foundation were 2018–2020. The Southeast region accounts for the largest share of the industry (49.2%), followed by the Northeast region (19.7%). The value of 100 g of Brazilian bean to bar chocolate ranges from US$2.92 to US$18.75 with an average of US$6.49. The amount of cocoa solids (cocoa butter, mass and/or powder) ranges from 31% to 100%. In addition to chocolate bars, companies also produce a variety of other products, such as cocoa liquor, nib, tea, honey and powder, beverages, dragées, brigadeiro, bonbons, and other products. Overall, the data suggests that the bean to bar chocolate industry in Brazil is a booming and vibrant field. The increasing number of company foundations is steady, as there is a growing demand for high-quality chocolate made with sustainable and ethical practices.