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Summary of our market study
The French confectionery market, excluding chewing gum, is valued at 1.2 billion euros.
The confectionery market experienced a notable decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the global market valued at $188.52 billion. The forecast annual growth rate of 3.8% between 2021 and 2028 should see the market reach $243 billion by 2028.
The French confectionery market has shown resilience, recovering to 14% sales volume growth in 2022. Notably, traditional confectionery such as chewy pastes and nougats saw strong growth, while sales of bonbons and lollipops rose by 10.5%, and sugar confectionery specialties by 21.8%. Innovation and a focus on natural, healthier recipes stimulated demand.
Although the chewing gum market declined by 25%, the French market for confectionery products, excluding chewing gum, grew by 14% in 2022 to reach 1.2 billion euros.
35.8% of production is exported.
The industry operates according to strict health and safety protocols, influenced by EC regulations such as 178/2002 and 852/2004, which impose traceability, responsibility for food safety and the environment.ability, responsibility for food safety and the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP).
The confectionery sector saw its prices rise by almost 13% in 2023.
Evolving trends in the confectionery market: healthier choices and traditional flavors
Manufacturers are striving to align their offerings with the growing demand for authenticity and naturalness, and have made considerable efforts to reformulate recipes, eliminate controversial ingredients and incorporate natural flavors and colorings.
The consumer base is very broad, encompassing all agges from children to the elderly. Consumers' average annual budget for confectionery is between 35 and 40 euros, with a frequency of purchase of around once a month.
A few global players such as Mars Inc, Ferrero Group and Mondelez International dominate the market.
The organic confectionery niche segment is showing strong growth, particularly in the organic chocolate confectionery sub-segment, which has risen by over 50% in one year.
The introduction of the Nutri-score label provides a transparent benchmark for the nutritional quality of food products, and a growing number of consumers are aware of and interested in the system.
Some confectionery players
- The Mars group stands out with its broad portfolio of brands.
- Mondelez is another confectionery heavyweight
- Italy's Ferrero group, known for its finely-crafted chocolates.
- Switzerland's Lindt & Sprüngli adds a touch of luxury to the confectionery market with its premium chocolates.
- Perfetti Van Melle, known for its chewing gum brands, but with a wide range of other brands
- Carambar & Co perpetuates a heritage of pleasure with a varied range of candies
- Lutti, part of the Carambar & Co group, offers colorful, tasty candies that arouse enthusiasm with every bite.
- Haribo Ricqles Zan France stands out for its playful and varied assortment of jelly sweets.
- From niche players such as François Doucet and Cruzilles Confiserie to smaller but influential entities such as Kubli, the industry is full of diverse confectioners.
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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 presented in this market study
- 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
Ferrero pursues its breakthrough in frozen foods with the launch of a nutella ice cream - 23/05/2024
- - Launch of Ferrero ice cream brand in Europe: 2021
- - Launch of Kinder ice creams in partnership with Unilever: 2018
- - First Ferrero ice cream products: Ferrero Rocher and Raffaello (round, crunchy sticks)
- - Relaunch of Kinder ice creams with in-house production: 2022
- - Consumption of Kinder Bueno ice creams: 1.4 million consumers in 2023
- - Sales of Kinder Bueno ice creams: 13.6 million euros in 2023
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%
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the confectionery market | France
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