Ireland can now add "chocoholism" to its list of bad habits. A new report has found that the Irish are Europe's biggest buyers of chocolate, spending an average of €121 each a year. This is €27 more than Britain.
Britain, however, tops the polls in consumption, eating over 10 kg a person a year.
Ireland ranks third in consumption levels, eating each person eating 8.2 kg a year. Products such as Mars bars and Kit-Kat account for 53 per cent of total volume sales in the Republic.
By the end of 2003, Irish people will have spent over €476 million on chocolate confectionery.
The survey, conducted by Datamonitor, estimates the Irish chocolate confectionary market will grow by 20 per cent to €573 million in the next four years. It says Ireland shows healthy growth "despite sluggish sales in western Europe".
The survey also shows that European tastes vary dramatically. Irish consumers prefer "countline" or snack-type chocolate such as Mars and Kit-Kat. The French prefer the simplicity and purity of taste without additional flavours and with little sugar.
Italians, the survey says, prefer to indulge in the more sophisticated end of the market.
The top seven European countries which buy and consume chocolate are the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain.