German chocolatiers prepare for Easter with bumper batch of chocolate bunnies

According to the Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI), 50% of the chocolate bunnies, approximately 107 million, will remain in Germany while the remainder (50%) are exported, mainly to the European partner countries, but also to the USA, Canada, Australia and South Africa.

While the classic Easter bunny made from milk chocolate is still the most popular - dark or white chocolate and decorative figures such as little lambs, carrots or chicks made of chocolate are also on trend this year.

Chocolate eggs, essential for any Easter basket, continue to be very popular with consumers.

Moreover chocolate made by German manufacturers is at least 77% sustainable, compared to the BDSI’s first survey on 2011, when the proportion of sustainable cocoa was only  3%.

“Many German confectionery manufacturers participate in, or even have, their own projects and programmes that enable farmers and their communities to improve their incomes, make cocoa cultivation more productive and climate-resistant, protect the environment and combat deforestation, as well as respecting the rights of people in the supply chain​,” said the BDSI.

The most important certification standards from Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance set strict requirements for the prevention of child labour and are checked by the respective organizations, accounting for approximately 75% of sustainable cocoa used by the German confectionery industry.