Chocolate consumption in the UK has decreased since the roll out of regulations restricting high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) products from key store locations, new data shows.

Analysts at Mintel found that consumption has slightly decreased since 2022, with a shift towards eating chocolate only once every fortnight or less regulary than previously.

It follows the introduction of HFSS regulations on 1 October 2022, which saw products deemed ‘unhealthy’ removed from store entrances, gondola ends and checkouts in a bid to limit obesity levels in the UK.

As a result, impulse chocolate buying has also declined due to the reduced visibility, with a significant drop in promotional deal-driven purchases.

Despite the decline,  UK chocolate market sales are still due to reach £7bn in 2023.

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Mintel senior food and drink analyst Richard Caines said: “Volume sales of chocolate have declined, and there is a need to make supermarket chocolate aisles more enticing, to increase both impulse buying and gifting sales.”

Since the restrictions rolled out, many major UK brands have reformulated products to ensure they remain visible in key store locations.

Last month, Walkers moved its entire Sunbites range to non-HFSS, made with whole grains and natural flavouring while also containing less sugar and salt.