NCA reveals America’s favorite Valentine’s Day chocolate filling

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, 87% of consumers in America said they’re planning to celebrate the occasion by sharing a gift of chocolate or candy.

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has revealed the nation’s favorite filling is caramel and that just 50% of chocolate lovers use the “map” in a heart-shaped box of chocolates to find their favorites, while 31% pick at random.

The remainder bites the corner to determine the chocolate’s filling (13%) or pokes at the bottom of the piece of chocolate (6%) to determine its contents.

When it comes to the most sought after filling, the NCA revealed that consumers largely chose caramel (32%), closely followed by nuts (24%) or a chocolate-based filling (21%).

“No matter your preference, sharing confectionery products on Valentine’s Day is a celebration of the power of chocolate and candy to bring people together​,” said John Downs, NCA president & CEO. “Gifting these treats on Valentine’s Day is as iconic and tied to this moment as the heart-shaped box that so often marks the season​.”

As with past special seasons, the NCA is providing fun facts​ and resources on Valentine’s Day Central​ as part of the confectionery industry’s commitment to helping people manage their sugar intake by providing consumers with smaller pack sizes, clear calorie labels and more information online.