Top 10 Most Popular Chocolate Bars in Australia

Australians love chocolate. According to IBIS World as a country more than $4 billion a year is spent on chocolate in Australia. In a recent study by Max Brenner research found that one in four Australians has indulged in a ‘chocolate only' breakfast, lunch or dinner, whilst no less than one in three has drowned their sorrows by eating an entire block. But what does this money actually get spent on? And what brands do Aussies love most?

Below is a list of the Top 10 most popular chocolate bars in Australia. Not an official list but one that is based on a number factors, including conversations with customers and those in the industry, as well as sales from Moo-Lolly-Bar.

10. Violet Crumble

Originally introduced by Hoadley's chocolates in 1913 in Melbourne, Victoria, Violet Crumble is one of Australia's oldest chocolate bars. Consisting of a crumbly sponge toffee centre that is smothered in compound chocolate the product is similar to a Cadbury Crunchie, although its texture is considered crispier and it has a hint of a marshmallowy taste. Promoting under the strapline ‘it's the way it shatters that matters' this product is also especially popular in Hawaii and Hong Kong.

9. Smarties

Smarties have actually been around in one form or another since 1882 when Rowntrees of York, started making ‘Chocolate Beans'. An assortment of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, pink and brown coloured crispy shells, Smarties are perhaps the most popular chocolate amongst children. In a current poll on the UK's official Smarties website orange leads the way as the most popular colour with 16% of the vote.

8. Cadbury Flake

The result of an idea than originated from an employee on the shop floor in the early 1920s who noticed that when draining off the excess chocolate from the moulds, it created a stream which rested into folds with flaking properties, Cadbury Flake is a feelgood chocolate bar in more ways than one. Indellibly linked with its '99 Flakes' relationship with vanilla ice cream, Cadbury Flake has built a strong following on the back of its television advertising campagins since the late 1960s that feature the ‘Flake Girl', the latest series of which star the singer/songwriter Joss Stone.

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7. Snickers

Introduced to the world in 1930 by Mars Incorporated, Snickers is the best-selling chocolate bar of all time. Containing a mix of peanut nougat topped with roasted peanuts and caramel and covered in smooth milk chocolate the product has global sales in excess of $2 billion. It is a little known fact that Snickers was named after the Mars family horse. In the UK it was previously know as Marathon.

6. Cherry Ripe

Launched in 1924 by MacRobertson's, Cherry Ripe has a special relationship with Aussies. Transcending the generation gap this bar of ripe juicy cherries and moist coconut smothered in rich Old Gold® dark chocolate, provides the consumer with a rather delicious and mouth watering treat. Enjoying sales of over $35million every year in Australia, Cherry Ripe is promoted as ‘The Big Cherry Taste'. Until 2002 it remained co-branded with  the originaly MacRobertson logo.

5. Kit Kat

Introduced by Rowntrees of York in 1935, the original 4 finger Kit Kat was inspired by the suggestion of a worker at their factory in York who posited the recommendation in an ideas box for a treat that 'a man could take to work in his pack up'. First known as 'Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp' the product was rebranded to Kit Kat after WWII. Now manufactured by Nestle, the product is sold around the world in such far afield places as Egypt, China, Bulgaria and Venezuela. There are a number of popular variations on the product, as well as some unusual ones too. Most notably in Japan where you can buy Apple Vinegar, Red Bean and Soy Sauce versions!

Freddo Frog
Arguably the most ‘fun' product on the market today, Freddo exploded into the Australian confectionery scene in July 1930. Originally taking the form of a solid chocolate frog costing the princely sum of 1d, Freddos over the last 80 years have also been filled with no less than 40 different flavours, including strawberry, coffee, caramel and mint. In addition they have also been combined with an assortment of other things including raisins, rice bubbles and nuts. Today over  90 million Freddos are consumed every year in Australia. In 1975 the product most famously became the subject of a children's book penned by Gordon Rule called ‘The Fantastic Adventures of Freddo'.

Aero
Now being manufactured at Nestle's Campbellfield factory in Victoria after a 15 year period of production in the UK, Aero Chocolate bars are now made to a recently modified recipe, created specifically to satisfy Australian tastes buds, that promises a 'smoother, creamier' taste experience. Sold around the world, and especially popular in the UK, Argentina, Bahrain, Estonia and Nicaragua, Aero is currently being promoted under the strapline ‘Get your bubble on'.

2. Cadbury Dairy Milk

Proudly launched in the UK in 1905 with the unique selling point of having a larger serving of milk than any other chocolate bar had previously employed, Cadbury Dairy Milk is the company's best selling product. According to folklore a number of names were proffered for Cadbury's signature chocolate bar including ‘Highland Milk', ‘Jersey' and ‘Dairy Maid'. However it was only when the young daughter of a customer suggested Dairy Milk that the name was settled upon. In 2006 the Australian version of Cadbury Dairy Milk was reformulated with the addition of palm oil as a replacement for cocoa butter. However this did not go down to well with consumers and after a period of poor sales the company announced it would return to the previously employed method of a Cocoa Butter only formula in 2009.

Mars
Recently annouced as Australia's favourite chocolate bar in a study by Roy Morgan Research, Mars is believed to be consumed at least once in an average 4 week period by no less than 9.6 million Australians. This equated to approximately 53% of all people aged 14 and over. Launched in the UK in 1932, Mars is perhaps best known for its icnoci strapline ‘A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play'. When first launched it was advertised to the trade as being a couverture bar of chocolate.