Chocolate Bars - Still Delicious!

 The term chocolate bar is a popular way of describing a confectionery treat in the form of a bar. This is usually packaged in a bar shape with individual perforations or in a long, narrow, shaped log covered with chocolate. Many types of chocolate bar exist and there are thousands of companies that create chocolate bars. Some of these companies produce many choices of fillings in their chocolate bar, such as nuts, fruit, mint, coconut, marzipan and many more.

The chocolate bar evolved in approximately the late 1900s. Chocolate had become popular many years before the introduction of the bar but the idea of creating a chocolate bar was to provide a more convenient way of consuming the chocolate. The bars could be packaged and sold to eat easily by hand or while on the go. Up to the invention of the chocolate bar, chocolate had been sold by bulk with loose, irregular or formed pieces.

During the Great Depression, the cost of a chocolate bar was five cents. The price rose to ten cents after World War II and remained that price for many years. More advanced packaging and advertising contributed to the increase in cost to the consumer of many types of chocolate bars. Many chocolate companies still make the same bars they started out with, also adding many more varieties. Some popular chocolate bars that are still popular today are Clark Bar 1917, Baby Ruth 1920, The Charleston Chew 1922, Three Musketeers 1932, Fifth Avenue 1936 and many more. The Hershey Chocolate Company makes several chocolate bars that have been enjoyed for many years. The Krackel Chocolate bar was introduced in 1938 and the bars first contained almonds and then in 1939 peanuts were added alongside of the almonds. In 1941 the Hershey company changed the direction of the Krackel bar and removed all nuts and peanuts, which is the way we know the Krackel bar today. The shape of the York Peppermint Pattie may be round but it is still considered a chocolate bar. The Peppermint Pattie was introduced in 1940 and is still enjoyed today.

Chocolate bars can be used for fundraising, as where a sports team, corporation or school uses the chocolate bars to raise money for needed supplies. There are companies that put their corporate logo on the chocolate for use at promotional shows, incentive programs, and customer appreciation or to encourage attendance at board meetings https://polkadotonlinestore.com/. Wedding favors and other special parties, such as Bar Mitzvahs or milestone birthdays or anniversaries, are perfect occasions to use personalized chocolate bars to mark the day.

Brand loyalty is something all businesses strive for. But in terms of chocolate which comes out on top? Below is a list of the Top 10 most popular chocolate bars in the world in terms of consumption. But before you read on why don't you take a guess as to what is number one?

10. Hershey Milk Chocolate Bars

Invented by Milton S. Hershey of Lancaster, PA in 1894, Hershey Milk Chocolate Bars were the first mass produced chocolate bar in the USA. Still going strong they have been described as 'The Great American Chocolate Bar' and possess a slightly sour and tangy taste that is distinctly 'Hersheys'.

9. Oh Henry!

Created in 1921 by the Williamson Candy Company, this chocolate bar contains a delicious mix of peanuts, caramel and fudge which is coated in smooth milk chocolate. Particularly popular in Canada this chocolate bar is believed to have been named after a boy who frequently flirted with the girls at the offices of the Williamson Company.

8. M&Ms

Named after the surname initials of the companies two founders, M&Ms were originally produced in the summer of 1941 and are now sold in over 100 countries world wide. Comprising of a different range of coloured candy shell with the letter 'm' imprinted on it in lower case, this product is now available with a number of fillings including milk and dark chocolate, crisped rice, mint chocolate, peanuts, peanut butter, almonds, orange chocolate, coconut, pretzel and wild cherry.

7. Baby Ruth

Originally known as 'Kandy Kake' this bar of chocolate covered peanuts, caramel and nougat was introduced to the U.S in 1900. Similar to a Picnic, this product was first produced in Chicago by the Curtiss Candy Company who renamed it to Baby Ruth in 1921, supposedly in honour of the daughter of President Grover Cleveland. Nowadays it is manufactured by Nestle.

6. 3 Musketeers

Made by Mars Incorporated, 3 Musketeers is a chocolate bar with a centre that many people incorrectly refer to as nougat. In fact it is actually made of chocolate marshmallow and whipped cream. Launched in 1932 it originally contained three pieces in one package, flavoured strawberry, chocolate and vanilla, which led to the product being so named. Costing five cents when it was first introduced it was initially marketed as one of the largest chocolate bars on the market and something that could be shared with family or friends.

5. Milky Way

Created in Minnesota by Frank C. Mars in 1923, the Milky Way was the first commercially distributed filled chocolate bar. The name and taste of the bar was taken from a famed malted milkshake of the day, not the earth's galaxy as many contend. In its first year of sales in 1924 the Milk Way generated $800,000 in revenue.

4. Butterfinger

Popularised by Bart Simpson this concoction of butter and peanut butter covered in milk chocolate was lauched by The Curtis Candy Company of Chicago in 1923. The product got its named after a public contest was run by the company and quickly became a firm favourite on the back of early marketing ploys which saw the company drop Butterfingers and Baby Ruth bars from airplanes in cities across the United States.

3. Kit Kat

First created by Rowntrees of York in 1935, Kit Kat's in its original four finger form were developed after a worker at the Rowntree York factory put a suggestion in a recommendation box for a snack that 'a man could take to work in his pack up'. Originally called 'Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp' the product was renamed to Kit Kat after WWII. Today it is produced by Nestle in 17 countries around the world including the UK, Egypt, Australia, Algeria, China, Malaysia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Venezuela.

2. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Introduced in 1928 by Harry Burnett Reese, this chocolate has been one of the best-selling candies in U.S. History. Consisting of a delicious peanut butter filling enrobed in milk chocolate it comes as an individual 'Big Cup' or in a pack of 2, 4 or 8. Anyone who has seen the Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore film '50 First Dates' will recognise this product instantly.