Chocolate firms find life is sweet amid economic gloom

Chocolate-makers around the world are reporting buoyant sales despite the economic gloom.

One UK company has reported a 25% surge in profits. In Syria, one of the largest producers has increased sales over the past six years from 150 packs a day to more than a million.

One of its biggest successes is a 2ft-long wafer exported to Iraq called Today King Size.

Analyst Marcia Mogelonsky from Mintel said: "Unlike a lot of other foodstuffs chocolate is somewhat recession-resistant.