What do you do when you crave something sweet? Does your mind immediately go to chocolate? From milky to dark, chocolate comes in a variety of different forms. They also vary from culture to culture and country to country.
From young to old, chocolate is loved and adored by everyone. In the U.S alone, consumers eat up to 1.28 billion kilograms of chocolate confectionery annually. This has led some chocolate brands to stand out from the rest.
Who are these brands? To answer this question, we have compiled a list of the best chocolate brands in the world. So if you are sad that you couldn’t visit Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, then do not worry. Come on this journey to explore the land of chocolate and learn about some of the biggest and tastiest chocolate brands.
Here are the 10 Best Chocolate Brands in the World
| Sr No | Brand | Founder | Year Founded | Net Sales 2025 (in Billion US Dollars) |
| 1 | Mondelez International | Edward E. Rieck and Thomas H. McInnerney | 1923 | 36 |
| 2 | Mars Inc. | Frank C. Mars | 1911 | 23 |
| 3 | Ferrero Group | Pietro Ferrero | 1946 | 19.1 |
| 4 | Nestlé | Henri Nestlé | 1866 | 11.9 |
| 5 | Hershey’s | Milton S. Hershey | 1894 | 11.2 |
| 6 | Pladis (Godiva) | Ülker Family, Josef Draps | 1944 | 10.97 |
| 7 | Meiji | Hanji Meiji | 1916 | 7.54 |
| 8 | Lindt | David Sprüngli-Schwartz | 1845 | 6.01 |
| 9 | Haribo | Hans Riegel Sr | 1920 | 5.5 |
| 10 | Barry Callebaut | Octaaf Callebaut, Charles Barry | 1966 | 3.23 |
1. Mondelez International
Founder: Edward E. Rieck and Thomas H. McInnerney
Year: 1923
Headquarters: Illinois, USA
Mondelez is an international brand that has dipped its toes in various food and beverage items apart from chocolate. Notable chocolate of this company is Cadbury. Cadbury was founded by John Cadbury in 1824. In 2010, it was bought by Mondelez International. Many other chocolate brands are a part of this chocolate conglomerate. The most notable of these are Toblerone, Bournville, and Nutter Butter.
As of 2025, Mondelez has a net sales of $36 billion. It operates in over 160 countries. Its headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois, USA. By having big names in this industry, Mondelez has established itself as one of the best chocolate brands in the world.
2. Mars Inc.
Founder: Frank C. Mars
Year: 1911
Headquarters: Virginia, USA
Mars is an American multinational food company. It was founded by Franklin Clarence Mars in 1911. The company has completely engulfed itself in the world of chocolate. Mars’s products range from chocolate bars to chocolate-covered nuts and even chocolate-covered pretzels. The most iconic products from Mars include their Mars Bars, along with Snickers, M&M, Twix, and Skittles.
Currently, Mars runs their business in four segments: food, pet care, Mars Wrigley, and Mars Edge. Mars Wrigley focuses on candy, while Mars Edge focuses on nutrition and health. As of 2025, Mars Inc. has made $23 billion in net sales.
3. Ferrero Group
Founder: Pietro Ferrero
Year: 1946
Headquarters: Alba, Italy
Originating in Italy, Ferrero is a well-known brand in the world of chocolate. It was founded by Pietro Ferrero in 1946. This chocolate has a variety of luxury chocolates to its name. The most well-known chocolate by this brand is Ferrero Rocher, a hazelnut chocolate ball with a crispy wafer inside.
Ferrero is one of the most recognized chocolate brands. Some other chocolates under it are Kinder Surprise, Tic Tac, and Mon Chér. Their current headquarters is situated in Alba, Italy.
4. Nestlé
Founder: Henri Nestlé
Year: 1866
Headquarters: Veeve, Switzerland
You probably do not need an introduction to Nestlé. This Swiss multinational food company was founded by Henri Nestlé. Started in 1866, today this company has a massive range of chocolate products. From chocolate bars, chocolate-covered fruits, and pretzels. Nestlé even produces cocoa powder, even though it technically would not be classified as a ‘chocolate’.
The most recognised chocolate products from this company include Kit Kat, Butterfinger, Toll House, Wonka, and not to mention their classic milk chocolate bar. Nestlé has cemented itself as one of the best chocolate brands in the world. Their popularity has allowed them to expand into nutrition and wellness as well.
5. Hershey’s
Founder: Milton S. Hershey
Year: 1894
Headquarters: Pennsylvania, USA
Hershey’s has been around for a better part of 125 years. Their most famous products include their classic Hershey’s Bar and Reese’s Cups. Hershey’s offers a wide range of products tailored to holidays. In addition to chocolate, they also sell other products like milkshakes and chocolate chip cookies. You would not fail to find a product that won’t satisfy your sweet tooth. The legacy created by Hershey through these 125 years has made it one of the best chocolate brands in the world
Founded by Milton S. Hershey, Hershey’s has become one of the most recognizable brands in America. Founded in Pennsylvania in 1894, the company’s headquarters is still situated in the same state. In 2025, Hershey’s had accumulated $11.2 billion in net sales.
6. Pladis (Godiva)
Founder: Ülker Family, Josef Draps
Year: 1944
Headquarters: London, UK
Pladis is a private British company that makes food and snacks. They have 25 bakeries spread over 11 countries. Godiva is the most popular chocolate by Pladis. Godiva is a Belgian chocolate founded in 1926 by Josef Draps. Godiva is famous for making high-end chocolate products like chocolate truffles, chocolate-covered strawberries, nuts, and pretzels.
The most notable chocolate creations by Godiva include their Godiva Golden Box: a collection of milk, dark, and white chocolate truffles. They also have their Godiva Chocolate Gift Basket: a selection of chocolates packaged in a basket.
7. Meiji
Founder: Hanji Meiji
Year: 1916
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Meiji is a Japanese chocolate company. Meiji may not be popular in America and the Western Hemisphere, but they are adored in Japan. Meiji is most popular for their milk chocolates. They also produce candies and biscuits alongside chocolate. Some of their favourite products include Kinoko no Yama, Yan Yan, and Hello Panda.
Named after its founder, Hanji Meiji, this company was founded in 1916 in Tokyo, Japan. Through the years, they have properly established themselves in the chocolate and candy industry. In 20225, Meiji made #7.54 billion in net sales.
8. Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG (Lindt)
Founder: David Sprüngli-Schwartz
Year: 1845
Headquarters: Kichberg, Switzerland
Lindt & Sprüngli, or more commonly known as Lindt, is a Swiss chocolate brand founded in 1845. Lindt has graced the chocolate industry for 175 years. It was founded by David Sprüngli-Schwarz and his son Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann. Lindt has managed to produce premium-quality chocolate since its foundation. Which is why it has made itself one of the best chocolate brands in the world.
The company is most popular for its Lindor truffles, which come in a variety of different flavours. Lindt Chocolate Bars are also equally famous. Lindt’s headquarters is situated in Kichberg, Switzerland.
9. Haribo
Founder: Hans Riegel Sr
Year: 1920
Headquarters: Bonn, Germany
Haribo is one of the biggest chocolate producers in Germany. When it comes to chocolate, their biggest hit is Chammallow, their chocolate-flavoured marshmallows. These marshmallows are also known as ‘Soft Kiss’. Though they are primarily focused on candies, they have made a name for their chocolate products.
Haribo was founded by Hans Riegel Senior. Its headquarters is situated in Bonn, Germany, where it was founded in 1920. As of 2025, Haribo has made $5.5 billion in net sales.
10. Barry Callebaut
Founder: Octaaf Callebaut, Charles Barry
Year: 1966
Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
Barry Callebaut has been in the chocolate industry for more than 150 years. It has operations in over 45 countries and over 65 production facilities. It was created in 1966 through a merger between the French Company Cacao Barry and the Belgian Chocolate producer Octaaf Callebaut.
It is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and among its most popular brands are Chocovic, Caprimo, and Callebaut.
Conclusion:
So, did this list make you crave chocolate? Did it have you drooling? When it comes to the global chocolate landscape, only a few brands have been able to make themselves stand out. From the oldest to the newest, chocolate has gone through many stages of innovation. From the classics like Mars and Hershey’s to luxury chocolates like Lindt and Godiva, these are some of the best chocolate brands in the world. They have made some of our sweetest moments even sweeter.
FAQ
1. What is the most expensive chocolate in the world?
A. The To’ak chocolate is the most expensive chocolate in the world. A single chocolate bar costs $300
2 What is the most expensive chocolate in India?
A. Frischscoggi Assorted Tin Box is the most expensive chocolate in India. It costs Rs. 11,500
3. Which is the best dark chocolate in India?
A. Aram is the best dark chocolate in India
