The legal definition is that there has to be less than 0.5 g of sugars per reference serving size. For 100% sugar-free the reference serving size is 40 g, so the 0.5 g/40 g equates to less than 1.25 % sugars allowed. Sugars are considered to be mono and disaccharides and this will include glucose, sucrose, fructose and lactose. No-sugar added chocolate generally have no added sucrose, but may contain another sugar such as lactose, which is found in milk powder.
The trend towards healthier food continues to gain ground and is significantly changing consumer lifestyles and purchasing habits. In response to a multitude of nutritional recommendations and consumers want products that allow them to indulge themselves without the need for sugar. The indispensable key to the success of a sugar-free product is that it is healthy version of unhealthy calories. Today's consumer is eager to try low-sugar or sugar-free products, but not at the expense of enjoyment, not least when it comes to chocolate. Maltitol probably the best substitute for sugar, not only provides sweetening power, but also the calories are cut down to half. This will delight confectionery gourmets with waistline worries and chocolate addicts trying to reduce their sugar intake. The sweet taste of maltitol, combined with physico-chemical characteristics similar to those of sucrose, make it the most effective substitute for sugar in many applications and especially in the manufacture of chocolate. Crystallized maltitol is non-acidogenic and non-cariogenic and hence it harmless to teeth as it is non-fermentable by the buccal flora. Traditional chocolates contains around 30-50% of sugars, most of which is sucrose which gives chocolate a sweet taste while allowing the aromatic notes of the cacao beans to fully express themselves and provides the volume essential for making quality chocolate. But, Maltitol without any sugars, performs the same functions and the addition of intense sweeteners is not required. Thus making chocolate healthy and guilt-free. Sugar free chocolates are not only healthy for diabetics' patients but also helps consumers achieve their weight loss target without giving up the food they love. Hence, these factors will support the growth of this market during the forecast period.
Key players promote largely in supermarket, particularly in hypermarkets, where they can display huge varieties of their product line. Finest supermarkets feature some form of in-store promotional display for chocolate product line. Promotions staff offers customers samples and also provide them with product information such as ingredients, formulation and others.
Key players also use social media such as facebook, twitter, snapchat, instagram, and other to reach to various types of customers. Also, endorsing celebrities with huge fan following have bigger scope to promote the various chocolate products. Key players are also investing in advertising products on various magazines, newspaper, so as to connect to consumers even in rural and semi-urban areas.
Consumers demand for complex product stratification which includes various products at a range of prices that meet the needs of different consumers. Companies such as Hershey and others, which offers a wide range of products, are best positioned to compete across multitier markets. Key players have different market strategies for different region, so as to meet the need through selectively distributing its products to consumers at different stage of chocolate development so as to note down the feedback of their taste for and ability to buy the product. For example, many key players offer their chocolate products to the consumers as free sample during launch of their product as an introductory offering for emerging consumers and also take their feedback for the R&D department, so as to improve the formulations according to the need of the consumers.

Global Sugar free chocolate by category is segmented into two type 100% sugar free and no added sugar. The 100% Sugar Free segment is projected to reach USD 3.05 Bn by the end of 2023 and will grow at a CAGR of 7.02%. However, no-added sugar segment will grow at CAGR of 6.66 % and market value will reach USD 2.78 Billion.
The Global Sugar free chocolate market is segmented on the basis of main ingredients such as Cocoa beans, Sugar Substitute, Cocoa butter, fat & oil, Cocoa liquor and others. Cocoa beans segment is anticipated to account the maximum market proportion in the Global Sugar free chocolate market throughout the forecast period of 2017-2023. The segment is projected to reach to USD 2.18 Billion by the end of 2023. However, Cocoa butter, fat & oil will grow at a highest CAGR 7.04%.

Key Players
The leading market players in the global Sugar free chocolate market primarily are Hershey (U.S.), Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. (U.S.), Lindt & Sprungli SAS (France), Russell stover (U.S.), Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (U.S.), Think Thin LLC (U.S.), Guilin chocolates (Belgium)
Study Objectives of sugar free chocolate Market Forecast to 2023
> Detailed analysis for individual micro and macro markets for sugar free chocolate
> To estimate market size by Category, Type, Ingredients, Distribution Channel and Region
> To understand the supply and demand dynamics of sugar free chocolate
> To provide region level market analysis and future outlook for U.S., UK, Germany, France, and South-East Asia
> Company profiling of major players & competitive positioning for the sugar free chocolate market
> Value chain analysis and supply chain analysis of sugar free chocolate
> Analysis of historical market trends, and technologies, and current government regulatory requirements related to sugar free chocolate market
Target Audience
> Sugar free chocolate manufacturers
> Food Service industries
> Retailers and wholesalers
> Traders, importers and exporters

Key Findings
> Health cognizant consumers understand that sweeteners are by no means simply replicas of sugar. They fail to reproduce the wide range of the functional properties of sugar which are used by food manufacturers to manipulate colour, aroma, texture and shelf-life of their products; this restricts their use in many products. Some sweeteners affect taste adversely, while others are unstable when stored or cooked; some have failed clearance for human consumption. However, sweeteners can have some cost and functional advantages over sugar. Competition among the various sugar and non-sugar sweeteners is fiercest in soft drinks manufacture, in countries where its use and production is permitted and in countries with artificially high sugar prices.
> Progressive health cognizant consumers are increasingly influential in redefining daily diet routine: While they may be a minority group in terms of overall numbers, the influence progressive wellness consumers have over food culture is disproportionate. Progressive health cognizant consumers are sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge with others so as to help them live a healthy lifestyle. As food enthusiastic, consumers are no longer think about several health management such as lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, dieting such as low fat, low carb but are also focusing on quality of food such as fibre content, nutrition content and others. However consumers are moving away from products that are labelled fat-free, diet products and 100-calorie portion packs, but are preferring healthy vegetables, fruits, dark chocolate and healthy fats.
Regional and Country Analysis of Sugar free chocolate market development and demand forecast to 2023 Market
As per the MRFR analysis, Global Sugar free chocolate market is projected to witness at the CAGR of 6.85 % and it is projected to reach USD 5.84 Billion during the period of 2017 to 2023. Europe region is anticipated to account the maximum market share in the Global Sugar free chocolate market throughout the forecast period of 2017-2027. The region is projected to reach USD 2.19 Bn by the end of 2023. The Asia Pacific region is projected to register the higher growth rate 6.97 % during the forecast period of 2017 to 2027. North America is projected to witness the growth of 6.93% in the Global Sugar free chocolate market during the period of 2017-2023.
The reports also cover country level analysis:
> North America
o US
o Canada
o Mexico

> Europe
o Germany
o UK
o France
o Italy
o Rest of Europe

> Asia ? Pacific
o China
o India
o Thailand
o Others

> RoW
o Latin America
o Middle East
o Others