Estimates put chocolate growth at 10.6 percent between 2008 and 2009. Molded bars will by far be the top performer, valued at almost $1.5 billion - nearly three times as much as the nearest category of chocolate straight lines.

The show profile of Sweets China has been updated to reflect industry needs and is now a complete one stop shop for all businesses related to sweet, snack and confectionery.

Located in a strong geographical presence, enjoying good revenue performance and experiencing steady innovation in the region, Anglo-Dutch Unilever has emerged as the overall leader in the latest Asia-Pacific Food and Beverage Business Vitality Index

Barry Callebaut says with sales volumes up 2.6% to 895,391 tons for the nine-month period under review, growth has resumed after reaching a low in November 2008.

Hugues Pouget, the award-winning French dessert chef, has his work cut out for him as he tries to turn the Chinese into chocoholics.

Lured by growing market demand, Barry Callebaut opened its first Chinese plant in Suzhou, Jiangshu Province in east China and moved its Asian headquarters from Singapore to China in January to focus its development on the world's fastest growing consumer market.

Foreign chocolate brands such as Dove, Cadbury and Hershey's have now captured about 70% of the Chinese chocolate market.