The 18th Salon du Chocolat – the world’s largest annual chocolate trade show – was held in Paris, France, from October 30 to November 4.

The event, which is rapidly growing in popularity every year, attracted a record 135,141 visitors – 23,000 more people than last year’s Salon du Chocolat, also held in Paris.

World-renowned chocolatiers, cocoa farmers and 160 brands gathered in the exhibition space, where 85 tonnes of chocolate was on show.

A highlight of the event was the annual chocolate fashion show, where some of the most innovative and talented chocolatiers in the world combined chocolate with fine fashion to create wearable couture masterpieces.

This year’s event celebrated ‘the new worlds of chocolate’ theme, with the fashion show inspired by traditional national costumes from Asia, Mexico, Brazil, Africa and India.

The Salon du Chocolat has set up in Paris and New York throughout 2012, and will tour several countries in 2013 including South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, Peru, Brazil and the UK.