Analysis
NAICS 311351 is the 2022 national industry for chocolate and confectionery manufacturing from cacao beans, part of 31135 (Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing). Census lists 17 example activities under it in the official index.
By establishments it ranks 2nd of the 2 codes at this level within Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing, with 22.3% of them.
County Business Patterns counts 280 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 9,641 people at an average annual payroll of $64,136 per employee (41st percentile of national industries). 35% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include baking chocolate made from cacao beans, candy bars, chocolate (including chocolate covered), made…, candy, chocolate, made from cacao beans and chocolate (e.g., coatings, instant, liquor, syrups) made…, among 17 in all.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 9% and employment rose 5%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Census lists 4 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 311352, 311340, 722515 and 445292. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in shelling, roasting, and grinding cacao beans and making chocolate cacao products and chocolate confectioneries.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing, not for immediate consumption, chocolate confectioneries from chocolate made elsewhere | 311352 Confectionery Manufacturing from Purchased Chocolate |
| Manufacturing, not for immediate consumption, nonchocolate candies | 311340 Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing |
| Preparing and selling confectioneries for immediate consumption | 722515 Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
| Retailing confectioneries not for immediate consumption made elsewhere | 445292 Confectionery and Nut Retailers |
Index entries (17)
- Baking chocolate made from cacao beans
- Candy bars, chocolate (including chocolate covered), made from cacao beans
- Candy, chocolate, made from cacao beans
- Chocolate (e.g., coatings, instant, liquor, syrups) made from cacao beans
- Chocolate bars made from cocoa beans
- Chocolate, confectionery, made from cacao beans
- Coatings, chocolate, made from cacao beans
- Cocoa (e.g., instant, mix, mixed with other ingredients, powder drink, powdered) made from cacao beans
- Cocoa butter made from cocoa beans
- Confectionery chocolate made from cacao beans
- Cooking chocolate made from cacao beans
- Drink powdered mixes, cocoa, made from cacao
- Fudge, chocolate, made from cacao beans
- Granola bars and clusters, chocolate, made from cacao beans
- Liquor, chocolate, made from cacao beans
- Nuts, chocolate covered, made from cacao beans
- Syrup, chocolate, made from cacao beans