The dark side

Dark chocolate puts a premium spin on classic candy bars featured at the show. Nestle USA is introducing dark chocolate variants of Crunch and Butterfinger brands.

Hershey unveiled a king-size Kit Kat Dark, featuring the brand’s signature crisp wafers in dark chocolate. The company said dark chocolate is one of the brand’s most requested flavors.

Earlier this year, Mars added Twix Dark.

Many consumers perceive dark chocolate as healthier than milk chocolate and may view these products as a more permissible indulgence, Ms. Zegler said.

“It’s about time for these bigger brands to get into it, and it also adds that different occasion for those consumers … to see a dark Kit Kat gives you another reason to have that brand.”