Here’s What’s Happening for World Chocolate Day

World Chocolate Day is a day dedicated to celebrating chocolate each year on July 7. This day was chosen because some believe that the same day in the year 1550 was the date that chocolate was first introduced in Europe.

This day brings together all the chocolate lovers around to world to indulge and feel no guilt eating their favorite treats. There is a wide range of chocolate to choose from in the market —including milk chocolate, white chocolate and dark chocolate — but within these broad categories are many flavors and ingredient innovations.

From product promotions to new fair trade and sustainability initiatives, here is what these four companies are doing to celebrate World Chocolate Day.

Godiva

For World Chocolate Day, Godiva is celebrating with an array of chocolate treats. In addition, they are giving customers a 20 percent off discount code — CHOCOLATE — allowing fans to buy signature boxes for lower prices. Some of these signature boxes include the Signature Chocolate Truffles Gift Box, the Gold Ballotin Box and Patisserie Dessert Truffles.

Fairtrade

Fairtrade has unveiled a new campaign, just in time for World Chocolate Day, called “Bitter Sweet.” This will feature a stop-motion animation of their film, “Unwrap a Fairer Future,” which sheds light on the unethical side of cocoa sourcing practices.

“We’re making the bitter cost of each non-certified chocolate bar instantly apparent,” said Nilufar Verjee, Fairtrade’s director of public engagement and global cocoa campaign lead, in a press release. “This is a captivating and shareable way to discover why cocoa farmers who grow the cocoa in our favorite chocolate bars deserve better incomes.”

The stop-motion video tells a story of two bespoke chocolate bars; both look good to eat, but once the chocolate is unwrapped, they each have a different story to tell.

Adjoa Andoh, an advocate for fair trade practices best known for her role in Bridgeton, said, “Every Fairtrade bar of chocolate that you buy, every cocoa bean, means decent healthcare, education, and a collective voice all the way through the supply chain. Make the choice for hope, a future and joy, through the delicious medium of chocolate. Happy Fairtrade World Chocolate Day!”

Hershey and Land O’Lakes

Just in time for World Chocolate Day, Hershey and Land O’Lakes are partnering up to start a new initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) at their Pennsylvania dairy farms to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

They are helping to implement agricultural conservation practices using the initial investment $300,000 from Hershey on Land O’Lakes dairy farms. While not a typical promotion for World Chocolate Day, the partnership includes 119 member-owners that provide and ship 50 percent of the milk used by Hershey to make their chocolate.

“Leadership from corporations, like that of Hershey and Land O’Lakes, is critical to restoring Pennsylvania’s rivers and the Chesapeake Bay and reaching our climate goals. With so many passionate businesses in our watershed, we hope this partnership inspires others to take action towards a more sustainable future,” shared Jenna Mitchell Beckett, Pennsylvania state director and Agriculture program director at the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, in a press release.

To help improve the environment, dairy producers need to enhance water quality and mitigate climate change. This initiative will help show that conservation and economic profit can work hand in hand while producing high-quality milk.

“Not only will this initiative help Hershey to reduce our GHG footprint and improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and other watersheds in the region, but it will also help to improve soil health and protect biodiversity, and strengthen our connection to our dairy producers who are so integral to the creation of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate,” said Eric Boyle, director of commodities procurement at The Hershey Company.

Happi Free From

Happi Free From has launched a new range of oat milk chocolate snacks to cater to the market’s growing vegan and allergen-free segment.

The Happi Oat M!lk Chocolate Nibbles are bite-sized vegan snacks available in three flavors: Jumbo Raisins, Almonds and Vegan Honeycomb and just plain and straightforward Happi Oat M!lk Chocolate.

“Our Happi Free From Chocolate is gaining a strong and loyal following, so extending the product range into the snack category makes perfect sense,” said Gavin Cox, founder of Happi. “The new Nibbles range offers something for everyone; catering for those who enjoy dried fruit or nuts, or perhaps something a bit sweeter like honeycomb. They are a really delicious treat.”

The global chocolate market is expected to grow from $87 million in 2019 to $127 million by the end of 2025 at a CAGR of 6.38 percent. Additionally, the organic chocolate confectionery market is expected to reach 1.3 million by 2028, with a CAGR of 6.8 percent.

While the chocolate industry has been around for a very long time, it is constantly growing as innovation and market disrupters enter this crowded category.

World Chocolate Day is a day to indulge in those chocolate cravings and get creative by finding new and delicious ways to enjoy your favorite flavors.