Summary

The confectionery market experienced a notable decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the global market valued at $188.52 billion. However, a recovery is forecasted with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8% from 2021 to 2028, expecting the market to reach $243 billion by 2028. The French confectionery market, in particular, has shown resilience and witnessed a revival with a 14% growth in sales volume by 2022. Notably, traditional confectionery like chewy pastes and nougats saw a sharp increase, while sales of candies and lollipops grew by 10.5%, and sugar confectionery specialties by 21.8%. Innovation and a focus on natural, healthier recipes have driven demand.

Despite setbacks such as the 25% decline in the chewing gum market, the French market for confectionery products, excluding chewing gum, grew by 14% in 2022 to reach 1.2 billion euros, balanced by the strength of exports which constituted 35.8% of the production. In terms of regulations, the industry operates under strict hygiene and safety protocols, influenced by EC regulations such as nos. 178/2002 and 852/2004, which enforce traceability, food safety responsibility, and HACCP principles. The confectionery sector, while adapting to consumer expectations for decreased sugar and healthier options, saw prices rise by nearly 13% in 2023, due in large part to inflation affecting raw material, energy, and wage costs. Despite the challenging conditions, the confectionery market seems poised for sustained growth and evolution.

Evolving Trends in the Confectionery Market – Embracing Healthier Choices and Traditional Flavors

As manufacturers strive to align their offerings with the burgeoning demand for authenticity and naturalness, they have directed significant efforts towards reformulating recipes, eliminating controversial ingredients, and incorporating natural flavors and colorings. These adaptations cater to a consumer base that spans across age groups, depicting a diverse palette from children to the elderly, and contributes to the market's resilience. The French confectionery market specifically has navigated the complexities of the economic environment, maintaining an affordable indulgence for consumers with an average annual confectionery budget of between €35 and €40. Amidst the complexities introduced by the health crisis, confectionery remains a comforting and reassuring pleasure with a purchase frequency of about once per month.

On the global stage, the confectionery industry witnesses substantial competition, with a handful of global players like Mars Inc, Ferrero Group, and Mondelez International, dominating the market. The aggressive pursuit of healthier products is mirrored by the growth in the organic confectionery segment which, although still occupying a niche, is displaying growth, particularly in the organic chocolate confectionery sub-segment that saw an upward trend of over 50% within a year. Furthermore, the introduction of Nutri-score labeling provides a benchmark of transparency about the nutritional quality of food products, with an increasing number of consumers growing aware of and showing interest in the scheme. This reflects a broader inclination towards healthier eating habits and an awareness of the impact of consumption choices on overall well-being.

In conclusion, the confectionery market is at a crossroads, with health-conscious trends steering the industry towards a domain where the sweetness of indulgence meets the virtue of health, creating a dynamic market space that is both traditional and innovative, fixing its roots in familiar tastes.

Prominent Confectionery Titans: Navigating a Sweet Landscape

When embarking on a journey through the candy-coated corridors of the confectionery market, one cannot help but encounter the titans that dominate this sweet landscape. These key players not only shape consumer preferences but also influence market trends and innovations.

  • Mars Group looms large with its galaxy of iconic brands that delight consumers worldwide. As a family-owned business with a rich history, Mars has managed to turn confectionery into an art form, with products that have become household staples.

  • Mondelez is another heavyweight contender in the confectionery ring, synonymous with comfort snacks and treats. Its global presence and diverse product line make it impossible to ignore when one talks about confectionery's big hitters.

  • Then there is the Ferrero Group, an embodiment of indulgence with a touch of elegance. Known for its finely crafted chocolates and spreading joy through its delicious spreads and pralines, Ferrero has cultivated a devoted following that transcends borders and generations.

  • Switzerland's gem, Lindt & Sprüngli, adds a touch of luxury to the confectionery market with its premium chocolates that melt in your mouth. Their meticulous approach to chocolate-making is a testament to their commitment to quality.

  • Perfetti Van Melle may be best known for its global gum brands, but its reach extends far into the confectionery market with a variety of sweets that appeal to a wide range of tastes and preferences.

  • Representing the taste of France, Carambar & Co carries on a legacy of delight with a diverse array of sweets, including the iconic Carambar. With innovation at its core, Carambar & Co ensures that tradition meets the contemporary palate.

  • Lutti continues to intrigue and amaze with their imaginative confectionery creations. As a vibrant player under the umbrella of Carambar & Co, Lutti offers colorful and flavorful candy that brings excitement to every chew.

  • Haribo Ricqles Zan France stands out in the crowd with its playful and diverse assortment of gummy candies. The name Haribo is synonymous with fun and moments of joy, transcending age to appeal to the kid in everyone.

  • From the niche players like Francois Doucet and Cruzilles Confiserie to smaller yet impactful entities like Kubli, the industry is teeming with varied confectioners. 
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  • Number of pages : 30 pages
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  • Last update : 18/12/2023
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Definition and scope of study

Confectionery products, mainly made from sugar and enhanced with flavorings and colorings, come in a variety of attractive forms, including jelly beans, lollipops and chewing gums. These products appeal to a wide audience, from children to adults.

In 2022, the French confectionery market showed strong recovery momentum, despite the challenges posed by the health crisis. After being severely impacted, the sector saw significant growth, with a 3.7% increase in sales volume, gradually returning to pre-crisis levels, and a 14%increase in value. In particular, sweets and lollipops recorded an increase of 10.5% on 2019, while sugar confectionery specialties saw their sales rise by 21.8% on the same period. In addition, chewy pastes and nougats rose sharply, indicating a growing preference for regional and traditional confectionery.

This recovery is underpinned by innovation on the part of manufacturers, who have adapted to consumer expectations in terms of naturalness and quality. Considerable efforts to eliminate controversial ingredients and develop healthier recipes have helped meet growing demand for less artificial, more authentic products.

In response to these trends, the French confectionery market is moving towards products that offer both quality and pleasure, while remaining affordable. With an average annual budget for sweets and confectionery of €36.80, and a frequency of purchase of around once a month, confectionery remains an affordable and much-appreciated indulgence.

In this context, confectionery is positioned as a safe haven, a reassuring pleasure for consumers. Despite variations in the market, notably a decline in the chocolate segment, candy continues to enjoy constant popularity, with Haribo remaining the undisputed leader in the French market.

1.2 Optimism for the global market

The global market

Confectionery market sales World, ****-****, in US$ billion Source: ****

In ****, the confectionery market was valued at $***.** billion, representing a substantial decline of *.*% compared to ****. A CAGR of *.*% is forecast for the period ****-****, reaching a market value of *** billion USD in ****.

Global market players

top confectionery market players ...

1.3 Difficulties also affect the French market

The confectionery market, excluding chewing gum, has been estimated at *.* billion euros in ****. In ****, this market grew by **%.

Sweets and lollies attract a wide range of consumers, from children to the elderly. This diverse customer base helps to maintain demand and ensure the market's resilience in the face of more health-oriented ...

1.4 Foreign trade: An imbalance of power

In ****, France recorded a deficit of *** million euros in its trade balance. Although exports rose by *.*% during the year, imports increased by a more substantial *.*%, reaching a total of *** million euros.

Foreign trade in "Sugar and sugar factories France, ****-****, in billions of euros Source: ****

According to the confectionery union, France ...

2 Demand analysis

2.1 Breakdown of demand by confectionery category

Confectionery encompasses many different types of product, and the following chart shows which are the most popular:

Breakdown of confectionery sales in supermarkets by category France, ****, in percent Source: ****

In ****, candies, lollipops and cand y canes were the best-selling products in supermarkets, in terms of value, with a market share of ...

2.2 Consumer habits

Having learned about the most popular products on the confectionery market, it is useful to look at the consumption habits of the French:

Annual consumption of confectionery France, ****, in grams/day Source: ****

Unsurprisingly, confectionery consumption was higher among children than adults in ****, with a daily consumption of *g for children, and ...

2.3 Towards healthier food consumption

In recent years, French food consumption habits have evolved, with a trend towards "healthy", organic or even vegan products. This niche demand became particularly pronounced in **** with the pandemic and subsequent confinements, as many French people changed their consumption habits and turned to healthier, more balanced products. The trendis also supported ...

2.4 French favorite candy brands

In the survey conducted by OpinionWay for MPF Conseil in February ****, Haribo was named the French people's favorite confectionery brand, winning **% of votes from our panel . It was closely followed by Tic Tac and Carambar, with **% and **% of participants respectively expressing a preference for these brands.

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On average, ...

3 Market structure

3.1 Numerous manufacturing processes

Confectionery can be made in many different ways, depending on the type of confectionery required. Osmosis, vitrification, gelation... are all processes that generally require the use of specially adapted machinery.

Source: ****

Gelled sweets differ from other sweets in that they contain gelling agents in addition to sugar and glucose syrup. The ...

3.2 Confectionery production: rising numbers of companies and employees

According to Alliance *, in ****, confectioners in France accounted for **% of the French confectionery market, representing ** companies and *,*** direct jobs.

According to Urssaf, there are * NAF codes for confectionery:

**.**Z Manufacture of cocoa, chocolate and confectionery products **.**Z Wholesale of sugar, chocolate and confectionery products **.**Z Retail sale of bread, pastries ...

3.3 Products sold mainly through supermarkets

Here is a list of the different confectionery distribution channels:

Supermarkets: supermarkets buy their supplies from large central purchasing agencies. Examples include Galec for E.Leclerc and EMC Distribution for Casino. Traditional channel: meaning bakeries, tobacconists, kiosks, service stations, vending machines, specialist retailers, cinemas... Prices are often higher than in supermarkets, ...

3.4 A highly concentrated sector with room for new players

Typology of players :

Confectionery companies by size France, ****, in Source: ****

In ****, very small, small and medium-sized companies accounted for **% of confectionery companies, i.e. almost all of them. Large companies, which generate the most value, are nevertheless more limited in number, since in ****, they represented *% of the number of confectionery companies.by ...

4 Offer analysis

4.1 From traditional confectionery to novelties

There are many different types of sweet confectionery and chewing gum. They can be classified into * different categories.

Source: ****

Traditional confectionery is generally based on regional recipes or inherited from within a company. Vichy pastilles, Carpentras berlingots and Montélimar nougat make particular use of this traditional image to sell themselves ...

4.2 Strong price rises driven by inflation

Confectionery prices have remained relatively stable between **** and ****, despite a slight fall since ****, with a price index in **** of **.**, below its **** level (***). [***]

In **** (***), consumer prices for confectionery rose by almost **% in just a few months, reflecting rising raw material, energy and wage costs.

Consumer price index for confectionery (***) France, ****-****, base ...

4.3 Confectionery that needs to adapt

Reducing the amount of sugar: a sound approach

Confectionery sales have gradually evolved in response to changing consumer expectations. The most important trend is the marketing of confectionery that retains its appearance and taste, but with less sugar.

Haribo, for example, has developed Frutilicious and Sea Friends, which contain **% less sugar. ...

5 Regulations

5.1 Food industry regulations

The Ministry of Agriculture presents the most important regulatory texts in the agri-food sector, particularly those relating to hygiene.

EC regulation no. ***/**** assigns responsibility for food safety to the professionals who market them. This text creates an obligation of traceability, withdrawal of products likely to present a risk to consumer health...[***] EC ...

5.2 Regulatory aspects specific to confectioners

In the case of confectionery, regulations pay particular attention to the use of chemical compounds by confectioners. The regulations stipulate that it is forbidden for manufacturers to produce confectionery containing non-edible elements, whether or not integral to the confectionery, and presenting a suffocation risk for children under * years of age. [***]

Checks ...

5.3 Organic label and nutri-score

For a brand to obtain the organic label on one of its products, it must meet the following conditions:

at least **% of the product's components come from organic farming in accordance with EU regulations; The product complies with the rules of the official inspection system; The product comes directly from the ...

6 Positioning the players

6.1 Player segmentation

  • Haribo Ricqles Zan France
  • Mondelez
  • Carambar & Co
  • Kubli
  • Mondelez France
  • Lindt & Sprungli
  • Mars Group
  • Ferrero
  • Confiserie du Nord Têtes Brûléées
  • Lutti (Carambar Co)
  • Clément Faugier
  • Francois Doucet
  • Perfetti Van Melle
  • Chocmod
  • Astra Sweets (Vanherpe Groupe)
  • Brabo
  • Douceurs du Palais
  • Ricola
  • Cerdan Caramelos
  • Chupa Chups (PerfettiI Van Melle )
  • Damel Group
  • Cruzilles Confiserie

List of charts

  • Top confectionery market players by sales
  • Confectionery market sales
  • Index of sales in the confectionery sector
  • Sales of confectionery in supermarkets, excluding chewing gum
  • Breakdown of confectionery sales in supermarkets by category
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Latest news

Cruzilles adjusts revenues to keep pace with inflation. - 06/12/2023
  • 60% of Cruzilles sales are generated in the last three months of the year.
  • Cruzilles generates sales of 10 million euros.
  • The company employs 65 people.
Haribo: New Management in France - 03/11/2023
  • Jean-Philippe André was head of Haribo France for 17 years.
  • Anthony Deleter has 10 years' experience at Haribo.
  • Haribo holds 45% of candy sales on the French national market.
  • Its main competitor, Carambar & Co, holds 23% of the market.
  • France is Haribo's second-largest market, with sales of 360 million euros.
  • Haribo's French sales have tripled in 17 years
  • Haribo's total sales are 2 billion euros.
Haribo has cornered half the French candy market - 31/10/2023
  • Haribo holds 46.3% of the candy market in France.
  • Haribo's worldwide sales exceed 2 billion euros.
  • Sales in France reached 360 million euros in 2023.
  • Inflation has driven up prices by 25%.
  • In 2006, Haribo had a 23% market share in France.
  • Among competitors, the Carambar & Co group held 23%, and private labels 20.7% of the candy market.
  • Haribo has a network of 25 stores in France.
  • Haribo is on the brink of overtaking Lutti, the market leader in stinging candy with Fizz.
  • Ricqlès mint alcohol is one of the group's nuggets in terms of profitability.
  • According to NielsenQ, the share of stinging candy is the fastest-growing of all candies.
Ricola brings its herbal sweets to pharmacies - 08/10/2023
  • Ricola is launching a new range called Ricola Réconfort in French pharmacies in November 2023. The range includes three recipes: Honey Lemon, Lemon Menthol and Sweet Mint.
  • The target price for this new range is €2.9.
  • Over the next 5 years, Ricola aims to capture a 10% share of the pharmacy throat candy and lozenge market.
  • The market for throat candies and lozenges in pharmacies is estimated at between 25 and 26 million units a year.
  • Ricola's brand awareness is 98%, but its market penetration is only 16%
  • Ricola plans to open an ephemeral boutique in Paris from October 17 for a period of 7 months.
  • This year, Ricola sales rose by 15% in value and 2.5% in number of units in French supermarkets.
  • With one billion sweets sold, Ricola is the leading brand in pocket confectionery, with a market share of 38%, ahead of TicTac at 26%.
  • Following the Covid-19 pandemic, Ricola sales fell by 14%, before rising by 20% compared to 2020.
Ricola slips into pharmacies with its herbal sweets - 04/10/2023
  • Ricola's herbal sweets are about to make their debut in pharmacies.
  • With a 38% market share, Ricola is France's market leader in small pocket confectionery, ahead of Tic Tac, Mentos and La Vosgienne. Until now, the Swiss company has been distributed mainly in stores.
  • Ricola Réconfort is a competitor to Strepsils pastilles.
  • Ricola, annual sales estimated at 362 million euros
  • Family-owned company founded in 1930
  • Low penetration rate in France (16%)
  • The confectionery market grew by 16% to 1.3 billion euros year-on-year at the end of September, according to the Nielsen Institute.
  • Sales rose by 15% last year and volumes by 2.5%
Chocmod wants to impose its chocolate truffles on supermarkets - 31/07/2023
  • Sales 2022/2023: 52 million euros
  • Sales breakdown: 80% international
  • Annual production: 6,000 tons of truffles and 2,000 tons of marshmallows
  • Production sites: Roncq (Nord, France) and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (Canada)
  • Seasonal chocolate market: €700 million at Christmas, €400 million at Easter
  • The truffle segment is worth 6 M€ at Christmas
  • The company's primary market is the United States
  • 80% of sales at Christmas
  • 80% of sales are with truffles
  • 80% of sales are to supermarkets and hypermarkets (GMS)
  • This family-run SME is majority-owned by the Céréa fund, alongside Unigrains, Indigo and the management.

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Haribo Ricqles Zan France
Mondelez
Carambar & Co
Kubli
Mondelez France
Lindt & Sprungli
Mars Group
Ferrero
Confiserie du Nord Têtes Brûléées
Lutti (Carambar Co)
Clément Faugier
Francois Doucet

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