(Editor’s note: The food industry has embraced chocolate in ways that should make candy makers take notice. Candy Industry, with permission from The Food Channel,  is reprinting the consumer website’s Top 10 Chocolate trends. Some have been well-documented by us, and some represent ideas and innovations worth considering.)

 The Food Channel’sTop 10 Chocolate Trends for 2012 are based on research conducted in conjunction with CultureWaves and the International Food Futurists.