Luker Chocolate enters fast-rising oat milk bar market with healthier option series
Luker's cocoa cultivation in South America
Colombian ethically-founded Luker Chocolate has released its latest bar series featuring oat milk and organic sugar in response to sustained growth in the market for healthier confectionery options, reports Neill Barston.
The company’s Balance series includes new couvertures in the functional category, with added benefits such as high fibre and antioxidants, forming part of its wider portfolio that has been given fresh packaging designs for the foodservice sector.
As the premium South American brand explained, its range of confectionery comes under the banner of several segments – split into Regions, Heritage Recipes, Maracas and Balance – honours Luker’s connection to origin and commitment to sustainability. This gives customers access to some of the finest chocolate in Colombia.
According to the business, its latest 43% Oat Milk Chocolate comes as demand for the category has ‘sky-rocketed’ in the past year, with sales increasing 70%. As it noted, many plant based chocolate options to date have mainly consisted of high-quality dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 50% or more.
Now, due to oat milk’s creamy consistency, free-from consumers can indulge in a range of milk chocolates too, with its latest series benefiting from the flavour of fine Cacao Fino de Aroma.
As the company added, consumers are looking for healthier options and sugar free or sugar free alternatives, but still want an indulgent treat that doesn’t sacrifice taste. Dark chocolate has well documented antioxidant qualities, but there are still too few sugar-free options.
In response to this, the company has also developed a 70% Stevia and Erythritol dark chocolate, offering more natural, sugar-free options. These sugar-free dark chocolate couvertures deliver on consumer flavour expectations, without compromising on wellness benefits.
Furthermore, the range is completed with its Coconut Sugar 70% Dark Chocolate, where bitter cocoa notes mix with the delicate tastes of coconut, providing an alternative source of sugar.
Paul Morris, European sales lead, Luker Chocolate, said, “Oat milk is extremely popular with consumers who are trying to cut down their dairy consumption, as well as those who just love the taste! The smoothness of the milk is a great match for our fine Colombian cocoa, which together create a delicious plant-based alternative to premium milk chocolate.
“More broadly, the launch of our Balance line reflects what we are seeing in market – we expect the demand for healthier products which are also indulgent to remain strong.”
Marcela Jaramillo, VP of Marketing, Luker Chocolate, explained that the business was ‘incredibly proud’ to be significantly extending its portfolio into healthier options.
She said: “We are excited to see the growing consumer interest for a healthier lifestyle and how this has dynamised the chocolate industry. The Balance range is our answer to these wellness demands. At Luker, we’re committed to creating luxury chocolate that satisfies on flavour and leads the way on sustainability.”
