KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are among the highest consumers of chocolate in Southeast Asia (SEA) on a per capita basis, says Kraft Foods Malaysia.

Managing director Sunil Sethi said the per capita consumption of chocolate here is roughly about 500 grammes, compared with about 80g to 100g in a market like India.

In the wider Asia Pacific, however, Australia tops a consumption per capita of about 10kg to 12kg.

"I think in Southeast Asia, Malaysia and Singapore probably have the highest consumption of chocolate.

"Similarly, when it comes to biscuits and salty snacks, your consumption is on the higher side when it comes to Southeast Asia, but maybe lower compared with some of the developed markets ," he told Business Times in an interview.

Kraft sells products that include Cadbury chocolates, Oreo cookies and salty snacks like Twisties and Cheezels. It is the leader in the chocolate and biscuit segments in Malaysia.

Sunil said Malaysian consumers tend to love food and that propels Kraft to keep investing and innovating in new products.

"Malaysians are consumers that are willing to try, and if you give them something which they are satisfied with, then they tend to stick to it," he remarked.

Kraft is part of Kraft Foods Inc, the world's second largest food company which hadhad an annual revenue of US$54.4 billion (RM169.8 billion) last year.

Oreo, the world's number one cookie brand, which turned 100 this year, achieved double-digit growth in Malaysia in the first quarter this year.

Globally, it has doubled sales in the last five years and is on track to reach US$1 billion (RM3.12 billion) in annual revenues in developing markets this year, he said.