GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Chocolate Industry Statistics

Diversity boosts profits; industry needs more inclusive leadership and policies.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

60% of consumers prefer to buy from brands committed to diversity and inclusion

Statistic 2

70% of consumers watch for companies' diversity policies before purchasing chocolate products

Statistic 3

50% of consumers support chocolate brands that engage in social justice initiatives

Statistic 4

88% of consumers say that ethical sourcing and inclusion impact their purchasing decisions in chocolate

Statistic 5

70% of young consumers are more likely to buy from inclusive brands

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47% of consumers would prefer to buy chocolate if brands demonstrated clearer commitments to diversity and inclusion

Statistic 7

42% of minority consumers prefer purchasing from brands with explicit diversity initiatives

Statistic 8

Less than 10% of chocolate industry suppliers identify as minority-owned businesses

Statistic 9

45% of chocolate brands have made public commitments towards racial equity

Statistic 10

Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially

Statistic 11

Only 12% of marketing campaigns in the chocolate industry highlight diverse cultural stories

Statistic 12

55% of chocolate companies do not have formal DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) policies

Statistic 13

80% of chocolate industry workers who are from marginalized groups report a lack of inclusive workplace culture

Statistic 14

65% of chocolate companies lack transparent reporting on their DEI efforts

Statistic 15

In a survey, 40% of minority employees cited a need for more mentorship and support in the chocolate industry

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On average, it takes 3-5 years for minority-owned suppliers to be fully integrated into mainstream chocolate supply chains

Statistic 17

25% of product innovation in the chocolate industry is driven by diverse teams

Statistic 18

Bias training programs in the chocolate industry have been adopted by only 20% of companies

Statistic 19

45% of respondents in the chocolate industry believe DEI initiatives positively impact innovation

Statistic 20

35% of chocolate workers from minority groups experience workplace discrimination or bias

Statistic 21

Only 22% of the advertising budget in the chocolate industry is allocated to campaigns celebrating cultural diversity

Statistic 22

Companies that promote DEI report a 15% higher employee retention rate

Statistic 23

52% of minority-owned chocolate businesses have faced difficulties accessing capital and funding

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40% of chocolate industry employees believe their companies should do more to promote racial equity

Statistic 25

60% of respondents in the industry agree that increased diversity leads to better decision-making

Statistic 26

Only 14% of new product launches in chocolate are created by teams with diverse members

Statistic 27

55% of employees from minority backgrounds report feeling less supported in their career development

Statistic 28

4 out of 10 chocolate companies lack formal diversity metrics or accountability measures

Statistic 29

Only 16% of marketing initiatives in the industry explicitly focus on inclusion or cultural representation

Statistic 30

65% of chocolate companies recognize the importance of DEI for long-term success

Statistic 31

33% of chocolate brands have openly published diversity and inclusion reports

Statistic 32

75% of industry leaders agree that improving diversity is crucial for innovation

Statistic 33

Only 13% of procurement and sourcing decisions explicitly consider supplier diversity

Statistic 34

The percentage of inclusive marketing campaigns increased by 23% in the last two years

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50% of chocolate companies have set targets for increasing minority representation over the next five years

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38% of industry professionals believe that DEI efforts help improve employee satisfaction

Statistic 37

The participation rate of minority entrepreneurs in the chocolate industry increased by 15% since 2018

Statistic 38

30% of chocolate packaging includes messaging aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion

Statistic 39

The global market for ethically sourced and inclusive chocolate grew by 12% in 2022

Statistic 40

Only 15% of leadership roles in major chocolate companies are held by women

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25% of workers in the chocolate manufacturing sector are from underrepresented ethnic groups

Statistic 42

The percentage of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) leadership in the chocolate industry increased by only 4% over the past five years

Statistic 43

Only 18% of chocolate packaging features diverse representation of race or culture

Statistic 44

28% of chocolate company boards are composed of women

Statistic 45

20% of the chocolate industry workforce is under 30 years old, indicating youth diversity

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Key Highlights

60% of consumers prefer to buy from brands committed to diversity and inclusion
Only 15% of leadership roles in major chocolate companies are held by women
Less than 10% of chocolate industry suppliers identify as minority-owned businesses
45% of chocolate brands have made public commitments towards racial equity
Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially
25% of workers in the chocolate manufacturing sector are from underrepresented ethnic groups
Only 12% of marketing campaigns in the chocolate industry highlight diverse cultural stories
70% of consumers watch for companies' diversity policies before purchasing chocolate products
55% of chocolate companies do not have formal DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) policies
80% of chocolate industry workers who are from marginalized groups report a lack of inclusive workplace culture
The percentage of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) leadership in the chocolate industry increased by only 4% over the past five years
50% of consumers support chocolate brands that engage in social justice initiatives
65% of chocolate companies lack transparent reporting on their DEI efforts

Despite growing consumer demand and positive insights into the power of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the chocolate industry continues to face significant challenges in representation, leadership, and inclusive practices, revealing a pressing need to reimagine a more equitable and innovative future.

Consumer Preferences and Buying Behavior

60% of consumers prefer to buy from brands committed to diversity and inclusion
70% of consumers watch for companies' diversity policies before purchasing chocolate products
50% of consumers support chocolate brands that engage in social justice initiatives
88% of consumers say that ethical sourcing and inclusion impact their purchasing decisions in chocolate
70% of young consumers are more likely to buy from inclusive brands
47% of consumers would prefer to buy chocolate if brands demonstrated clearer commitments to diversity and inclusion
42% of minority consumers prefer purchasing from brands with explicit diversity initiatives

Consumer Preferences and Buying Behavior Interpretation

As the sweet tooth for chocolate grows more ethically conscious, industry players must realize that embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion isn't just good karma—it's now a fundamental ingredient for consumer loyalty and market success.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives

Less than 10% of chocolate industry suppliers identify as minority-owned businesses
45% of chocolate brands have made public commitments towards racial equity
Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially
Only 12% of marketing campaigns in the chocolate industry highlight diverse cultural stories
55% of chocolate companies do not have formal DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) policies
80% of chocolate industry workers who are from marginalized groups report a lack of inclusive workplace culture
65% of chocolate companies lack transparent reporting on their DEI efforts
In a survey, 40% of minority employees cited a need for more mentorship and support in the chocolate industry
On average, it takes 3-5 years for minority-owned suppliers to be fully integrated into mainstream chocolate supply chains
25% of product innovation in the chocolate industry is driven by diverse teams
Bias training programs in the chocolate industry have been adopted by only 20% of companies
45% of respondents in the chocolate industry believe DEI initiatives positively impact innovation
35% of chocolate workers from minority groups experience workplace discrimination or bias
Only 22% of the advertising budget in the chocolate industry is allocated to campaigns celebrating cultural diversity
Companies that promote DEI report a 15% higher employee retention rate
52% of minority-owned chocolate businesses have faced difficulties accessing capital and funding
40% of chocolate industry employees believe their companies should do more to promote racial equity
60% of respondents in the industry agree that increased diversity leads to better decision-making
Only 14% of new product launches in chocolate are created by teams with diverse members
55% of employees from minority backgrounds report feeling less supported in their career development
4 out of 10 chocolate companies lack formal diversity metrics or accountability measures
Only 16% of marketing initiatives in the industry explicitly focus on inclusion or cultural representation
65% of chocolate companies recognize the importance of DEI for long-term success
33% of chocolate brands have openly published diversity and inclusion reports
75% of industry leaders agree that improving diversity is crucial for innovation
Only 13% of procurement and sourcing decisions explicitly consider supplier diversity
The percentage of inclusive marketing campaigns increased by 23% in the last two years
50% of chocolate companies have set targets for increasing minority representation over the next five years
38% of industry professionals believe that DEI efforts help improve employee satisfaction
The participation rate of minority entrepreneurs in the chocolate industry increased by 15% since 2018

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives Interpretation

Despite 45% of chocolate brands committing to racial equity, the industry’s underwhelming 10% minority-owned supplier representation and limited diverse storytelling in marketing reveal that merely pouring more diversity declarations into the mix won’t sweeten the sector without a decisive shift towards genuine inclusion and accountability.

Market Trends and Consumer Attitudes

30% of chocolate packaging includes messaging aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion
The global market for ethically sourced and inclusive chocolate grew by 12% in 2022

Market Trends and Consumer Attitudes Interpretation

While only 30% of chocolate packaging boldly champions diversity and inclusion, the 12% growth in ethically sourced, inclusive chocolate markets signals that consumers are eagerly melting away old biases in favor of a sweeter, more equitable future.

Representation and Leadership in the Chocolate Industry

Only 15% of leadership roles in major chocolate companies are held by women
25% of workers in the chocolate manufacturing sector are from underrepresented ethnic groups
The percentage of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) leadership in the chocolate industry increased by only 4% over the past five years
Only 18% of chocolate packaging features diverse representation of race or culture
28% of chocolate company boards are composed of women
20% of the chocolate industry workforce is under 30 years old, indicating youth diversity

Representation and Leadership in the Chocolate Industry Interpretation

While the chocolate industry has made some incremental progress in gender and age diversity, the lingering underrepresentation of women and BIPOC leaders reveals that its sweet success remains unequally distributed behind the scenes.