The number of chocolatiers increased from 259 to 543 between 2009 and 2014. This appears in a study by the union of self-employed people (SNI) which was published on Saturday (2 April) and is based on figures from SPF Economy.
The increase is due in particular to the high demand and the conversion of many bakers to chocolatiers. Many bakers have become full-time chocolatiers in order to avoid working at night.
The union mentions a strong demand for chocolate and refers to a telephone survey among 41 chocolatiers. 43 percent of the respondents said that their sales had increased significantly during 2014. “No-one is afraid of any drop in sales,” the report says.
“Not only Belgians are fond of handmade chocolate but also customers abroad, especially in the Middle East and the rest of Asia. “Demand for our unique chocolate creations is very strong.”
The Brussels Times (Source: Belga)
