Love handles and lighter pockets have resulted in a dip in South Africa's chocolate sales. While the rest of the world still gorges on the stuff, recent studies show that tough economic times and heavy hips have cut consumption.Ordinary South Africans may be cutting back, but sweet-toothed celebs such as TV chef Zola Nene refuse to give up their indulgence. "When the craving hits, it does not matter what the cost," said Nene, who appears on SABC3's Expresso.According to a report by Cape Town-based research company Insight Survey, the proportion of consumers of chocolate bars declined from 55.8% to 49.2% between 2010 and 2015. It said this decline was not in line with global trends.South Africa's chocolate confectionery market is worth more than R5-billion.story_article_left1The report also found that the percentage of consumers of chocolate slabs declined from 39.6% to 35.7%. the sale of boxes of assorted chocolates has dropped from 29% to 22.3% in the past four weeks.Insight Survey research director Yashvir Maharaj said chocolate was becoming a luxury.For Nene, cost is not a factor. "I view it as a luxury item ... I don't purchase chocolate habitually, with my monthly groceries, for example, only when a craving hits and I need a chocolate fix - and when I need a chocolate hit, it doesn't matter what it costs, the only factor is which flavour speaks to me the most."Stand-up comedian Devin Gray has no intention of cutting back. "Chocolate is the greatest thing to grace the earth. The goal is to fit as many Astros into your mouth as humanly possible."Brett Rogers, presenter of travelogue TV show Food, Booze & Tattoos, said: "I am definitely not cutting back on chocolate! Why would I do that? Of all the things in the world that we need to cut out, chocolate is last on my list. If you get decent dark chocolate it's pretty healthy, not too expensive and tastes so good."South African Music Awards nominee Lakota Silva said: "I love chocolate! However, I have had to cut back because I feel the price of food is way too high, so to add luxuries to the cart becomes difficult. Now I hang in there for Easter and Christmas to get my fill."Lindt spokeswoman Nathalie Zagoda said: "Lindt in South Africa has not seen a sales decline."Ailsa Wingfield, of Nielsen South Africa - researchers of consumer trends - said annual retail sales for the total chocolate market for the first quarter of this year came to R7.2-billion. "Sales of single chocolates have increased, while sales of assortment chocolates have declined and sales of slabs and bars have remained flat."She said the sales growth in single chocolates could be attributed to consumers still purchasing small indulgences that were affordable...