Indulgence

For many centuries, biscuits, confectionery and later, cocoa products have been an integral part of our European culinary heritage, allowing people to experience and share exceptional moments of indulgence and joy.

European confectionery products are also recognised as the gold standard for excellence globally and we are very proud of this tradition.

  • German confectionery industry exports = €8.2 billion in 2018. Worldwide, top 5 export destinations are USA, Switzerland, Russia, Canada and Australia.
  • Italy is home to 350 different sweet, chocolate and confectionery Italy exported €1.7 billion of chocolate products in 2018.

Our industry allows Europe to maintain its tradition of skilled and creative confectionery making, celebrating the diversity of our products and cultures.

  • Chocolate sector in France = 105 companies, 90% are SMEs.
  • Preserve know-how, skills and recipes (over 200 regional and traditional confectionery recipes in France) through training, professional certifications and codes of practice.
  • Pastry chefs, bakers, catering crews and hobby enthusiasts.
  • The Italian sweets, chocolate and confectionery industry accounts for 220 production facilities within the Italian territory, 36 thousand employees and is home to 350 different brands.
Confectionary

€8.2 billion in German confectionery exports

German confectionery industry exports = €8.2 billion in 2018
Globe

Top 5 export destinations

Worldwide, top 5 export destinations are USA, Switzerland, Russia, Canada and Australia
Sweets

€1.7 billion in Italian confectionery exports

Italy is home to 350 different sweet, chocolate and confectionery brands. Italy exported €1.7 billion of chocolate products in 2018
Confectionary

Chocolate sector in France

Chocolate sector in France = 105 companies, 90% are SMEs
Pastry

Preserve know-how, skills and recipes

Preserve know-how, skills and recipes (over 200 regional and traditional confectionery recipes in France) through training, professional certifications and codes of practice

As humans we have an emotional connection to what we eat. Our products, created with passion and joy, provide an unparalleled range of delicious tasting treats for any occasion.

  • In France, 50% of people have a childhood memory that is attached to a biscuit or a cake.
  • An online survey showed a significantly positive relationship between overall mindful eating and mental wellbeing.
Treats are special. Taking a moment to enjoy our products mindfully and share them with loved ones may have a positive effect on our individual and collective wellbeing and conviviality.

Did you know...

The name biscuit, or biscotti in Italian, is derived from the Latin bis cotum – or baked twice. The origins of the modern biscuit can be traced to France where in the 14th century they were being sold on streets of Paris. They were hard and dry and differ from the dough that Dutch bakers began using to make what are now know as cookies, or ‘Koekje’, small cakes in Dutch.

In Latin, the cocao tree, Theobroma cacao, means “food of the gods.” Many historians believe that the origins of this god like product go back 2000 years. But it was the discovery of the Americas that introduced chocolate to Europeans. At first it was consumed as a drink and solely by the rich for taste, but also because they believed it had medicinal and even aphrodisiac properties.

The discovery by a Dutch chemist of a method for making powdered chocolate in 1828 – so-called “Dutch cocoa” – and the advent of the steam engine would transform chocolate into a mass produced and distributed product. First up it was Joseph Fry, with moldable chocolate past in 1847, which was then followed-up by the Cadbury family in 1868 who began to produce chocolate sweets and then the milk chocolate was introduced to the world by Nestle.