Snacking on chocolate has reached an all-time low, exclusive research for The Grocer has revealed. Chocolate’s share of out of home snacking occasions has more than halved in the past 12 years, from 19% in 2002 to just 9% last year [Kantar Worldpanel].

The decline has been almost entirely driven by consumers switching to other products, with cakes, pastries and sandwiches enjoying the greatest gains at chocolate’s expense. Fruit has accounted for just a fraction of the switching.