Finnish food company Valio has harnessed artificial intelligence (AI) to showcase the taste of the future.

The company researched over one million milk chocolates lovers’ desires with the power of artificial intelligence and designed a future-proofed milk chocolate together with chocolate artisans. “The Bar” combines all the changing preferences of people’s cravings while also having less sugar. This was made possible by the dairy company’s milk powder solution.

The Bar is designed by humans, and its recipe is based on AI analysis of milk chocolate lovers’ thoughts, cravings, and tastes around the world. Valio created the futuristic concept together with local chocolate artists of Kultasuklaa company, meaning that Valio itself has not switched to chocolate manufacturing. The Bar is a proof of concept of what the dairy company's milk powder solution can do and how the future of milk chocolate could look like.  

“The needs and preferences of global milk chocolate fans are changing," says Valio Senior Vice President Timo Pajari. "Growing awareness of health challenges affect the confectionery industry with governments around the world already starting to regulate sugar use and consumption. With our Valio Bettersweet solution the taste remains the same even though the amount of sugar is reduced."

Last spring the company analyzed with artificial intelligence over 1.5 million public milk chocolate-related social media discussions around the world and surveyed hundreds of people about their preferences regarding chocolate. The AI analysis was produced by the Finnish company Aiwo Digital in cooperation with Valio’s consumer insight team.

“We wanted to unravel the most delicious and hidden desires of milk chocolate fans," Pajari says. "By connecting the capabilities of AI, human craftsmanship and design with our milk powder know-how we were able to create the chocolate of the future. Observing and curating conversations on social media enabled us to draw conclusions of authentic consumer preferences."

Five different layers for different use cases

The results showed silent signals and emerging milk chocolate trends with two main conclusions. First, there is no single favorite chocolate taste, filling or size, as consumers want to enjoy different kinds of milk chocolate in different situations. Second, people want to indulge in milk chocolate with good conscience. The taste and sweetness are very important, but at the same time, consumers want milk chocolate to be healthier and natural with less sugar.

The recipe for a healthier chocolate was based on AI’s findings: five different chocolates with less sugar. Each chocolate has a different taste and texture designed to fit a different use case: impulse, craving, delight, hunger and relaxation. From bite to bite, new sensations get discovered and gradually build upon each other. The topographic design of the bar designed by professional designers allows the layers to be easily separated for enjoyment at the suitable time.

 “The Bar’s chocolate flavors form a new kind of alternative to the traditional chocolate box, where different chocolate flavors are combined together instead of separated," Pajari says. "Each layer of milk chocolate is made for different situations in life. In addition to plain milk chocolate flavor the other layers are enhanced with nuts and cookie crumbs."

Future milk chocolate has less sugar with no change in taste

The Bar’s milk chocolate has 30 percent less sugar than regular milk chocolate. It is also lactose-free. This is achieved without changing the sweet taste or texture of the milk chocolate by using Valio Bettersweet solution in the recipe. 

Valio Bettersweet is a milk powder solution that enables natural sugar reduction by using the proteins in milk. Utilizing the solution, chocolate manufacturers can fully dispense with artificial sweeteners. The 30 percent sugar reduction is just the beginning, as Valio already has solutions under development that can eliminate the amount of added sugar completely.

“We see that future milk chocolate will have less sugar and only natural ingredients, without compromising the familiar taste," Pajari says. "The Bar concept showcases how our Bettersweet milk powder solution does exactly that, but also how we can utilize AI to create even better products to cater the changing needs and desires of customers. Wherever the chocolate landscapes of the future will develop, with Valio Bettersweet it’s always made better."