Confectionery market to hit $278B by 2032 as candy sales surge
The confectionery market is entering a new growth phase, driven by evolving consumer preferences, seasonal demand, and innovation in non-chocolate formats
Gum
Ferrero launches first global sustainability campaign
The confectionery maker revealed all at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport
Candy crush: 5 ways confectionery is staying sweet amid pricing pressure
Consumers may be under financial pressure, but candy remains one of the most resilient categories in the store
GLP-1 fuels new wave of confectionery innovation
GLP-1 drugs are transforming consumer snacking habits, and confectionery brands are responding
Is it time to get plastic out of chewing gum?
Chewing gum might be small, but its plastic content is causing big concerns. With mounting regulatory pressure and rising consumer demand for change, manufacturers are being urged to rethink their formulations
NCA Awards: Nominations open
The National Confectioners Association is now accepting nominations for its 2026 industry awards, celebrating excellence across retail, leadership, and sales
Top food and beverage disruptions in 2025
From labour shortages to climate chaos, the food and beverage industry is fighting fires on all fronts
Top confectionery trends driving sales in 2025
From timeless favourites to viral treats, discover how price, innovation, and better-for-you options are reshaping the confectionery aisle
How regulators are shaping the future of novel foods
From cell-cultivated meat to precision-fermented dairy, regulators are stepping up to support innovation
Top 5 functional confectionery ingredients
Functional confectionery is booming. Find out which ingredients are driving the trend
Chewing over the next big idea: Snacks built for GLP-1 lifestyles
With GLP-1 users eating less often, chewy and long-lasting snacks like jerky, protein bites, gummies and gum are stepping up as the formats that make every portion count
How brands are reformulating for healthy indulgence
Confectionery is getting a makeover, and it’s happening fast. Discover how brands are reformulating for healthy indulgence in our free webinar on 23 September 2025
Artificial sweeteners still bitter? Natural fix shows promise
Scientists discover possible solution to ‘bitter’ taste in artificial sweeteners
Do consumers really want less sugar? The sweet debate unwrapped
As sugar reduction reshapes sweets and snacks, are brands keeping pace with what consumers want?
Stevia’s functional edge: Fermentation unlocks cancer-fighting potential
As demand for natural sweeteners grows, stevia’s health potential could be a game-changer
EU food stung with 15% tariff in US
It’s feared the trade deal will hinder the competitiveness of European food in the US
Mars-Kellanova deal to reshape global snacking market
What happens when a confectionery giant takes a step into the snacking world? We’re about to find out
Hershey sharpens its 2025 strategy with sweet innovations and a packaging overhaul
Hershey is doubling down on innovation in 2025, unveiling a bold product lineup and a transformed packaging strategy at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo
Acesulfame K declared safe by EFSA
Popular sweetener, used in carbonated drinks, sweets and protein shakes re-evaluated following safety concerns
Meet the next-gen gum solution with a clean-label focus
Inside GPI’s new Canadian innovation centre where plant-powered ingredients and precision R&D reshape the future of confectionery
Will aspartame be banned?
Aspartame is approved for use in thousands of food and beverage products worldwide, but calls to ban the popular sweetener are growing. Will European Commission proceed with a ban and what would this mean for manufacturers?
Has gum lost its chew?
NGOs and grassroots organisations deliver an open letter to the UK government, calling for a ban on plastic chewing gum
Sweet innovation: Confectionery NPD at SIAL 2024
There was no shortage of confectionery innovation at SIAL in Paris this month: with innovation tapping into health and wellness trends, future flavors and more...
Sustainability in confectionery: Six ways to drive a greener future
In recent years, consumer demand and evolving government regulations have led to significant advancements in sustainability within the confectionery sector.
Is zero-calorie sweetener xylitol bad for the heart?
Another sweetener has come under fire from researchers, and industry is pushing back.
Sustainable chewing gum brand Milliways pops the growth bubble
With claims to be the UK’s biggest plastic-free, plant-based chewing gum brand, Milliways outpaced the growth of the chewing gum category by 43 times, according to new IRI data after significant investment in product innovation and a public awareness...
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024
Hershey pioneers new innovation in retail AR at 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo
Hershey arrived in Indianapolis for this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo with a raft of new products – and latest innovations in augmented reality (AR) as part of its retail capabilities and merchandising strategies.
Special edition: Plant-based confectionery
Tantalizing textures: the new frontiers of plant-based gummies
Across Europe, there is a palpable enthusiasm for plant-based gummies, reflecting a growing consumer interest in perceived health-promoting and more sustainable products; we speak to Quentin Schotte, Convenience and Snacking Manager for Cargill Food...
Innovation
TopGum unveils new iron-rich gummies at Vitafoods 2024
Gummy supplement manufacturer TopGum Industries has announced it is launching a new clean-label IronGum formula with no metallic aftertaste or added sugar.
Finanical results
Hershey records profit rise in Q1 as domestic market holds steady
The Hershey company reported an uptick in sales, income, and earnings per share when it announced net sales and earnings for the first quarter ended 31 March, 2024.
Financial results
Mondelēz maintains positive outlook for 2024 on back of strong Q1
Mondelēz International has maintained the company expects Organic Net Revenue growth of 3% to 5% in its 2024 Outlook after the Cadbury parent beat market expectations for first-quarter sales and profit.
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024
Sweets & Snacks Expo prepares for new Indy experience
The annual Sweets & Snacks Expo convenes thousands of confectionery and snack industry professionals and hundreds of chocolate and candy companies for the largest trade event in North America. After 25 years in Chicago, it is moving on to a new home in...
SOTIC 2024
NCA’s Sweet Life video candy shorts return for second season
The NCA launched the second season of its award-winning streaming series, The Sweet Life, at its State of the Industry Conference for a behind-the-scenes look at the secrets of the confectionery industry.
SOTIC 2024
US consumers’ chocolate craving continues as sales hit all-time high of $48 Billion in 2023
Confectionery sales in the United States hit $48 billion in 2023 (up from $42.6bn in 2022 ), according to the National Confectioners Association’s 2024 State of Treating report, which was released at its Cconference in Miami this week.
SOTIC 2024
Downs pays homage to key workers and praises the ‘power of sweet’ in SOTIC keynote
National Confectioners Association (NCA) president & CEO John Downs opened this year’s State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) by celebrating 10 years at the helm with the reminder that industry plays an important role in the US economy.
NCA SOTIC 2024
AI, State of Treating 2024, and the Downs’ keynote – what to expect at SOTIC
The National Confectioners Association has been advising its members on artificial intelligence for the past 12 months, so it is no surprise it will play a major part of its State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Miami, which opens this Sunday.
ISM/ProSweets 2024
ISM taps into latest confectionery trends after successful show
ISM and ProSweets Cologne wrapped up a successful four days earlier this week, showcasing a raft of new products and trends for the confectionery industry, after the one-off postponement of ISM last year.
ProSweets Cologne 24
ProSweets Cologne focuses on the reformulation of sweets and snacks
More than 30 ingredients specialists are set to attend ProSweets Cologne, the supplier fair that runs along side ISM sweets and snacks trade show, to offer natural and sustainable solutions that contain less sugar or carry a clean label declaration.
M&As
Mondelēz completes sale of gum business to Perfetti Van Melle Group
Mondelēz International has announced it has completed the sale of its developed-market gum business in the United States, Canada and Europe, excluding Portugal, to Perfetti Van Melle Group.
R&D
Uplift for Rev Gum as it secures $6m investment for its caffeinated chewing gum
Mission-driven energy gum company Rev Gum, the revolutionary fast-acting caffeinated chewing gum made with zero sugar, has announced it has raised $6 million from investors led by YETI Capital; founders of Drunk Elephant; former co-CEO of Whole Foods,...
Webinar
Free webinar: Sweetest innovations – can an AI-powered algorithm crack the sweetness code in confectionery?
In the upcoming webinar (airs 13 September), ConfectioneryNews will profile some of the key innovations in the sector that are being driven primarily by consumer trends. As R&D budgets are increased, we have seen ground-breaking innovations in the gummy...
Financial results
Hershey raises earnings outlook as consumer demand for confectionery remains resilient
The Hershey Company has announced an increase of 5.0% in consolidated net sales and an organic, constant currency net sales also of 5.0%. In its Second-Quarter 2023 Financial Results, it also updated its full-year reported earnings outlook to reflect...
News
Chewing gum brand Milliways bags £3m in funding to scale business
Plastic free and plant-based chewing gum brand Milliways has secured £3m in funding to further propel its growth.
Sweets & Snacks 2023
Sweets & Snacks closes Chicago with a record-breaking show
This year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo will be remembered for many reasons, not least because it was the last one to be held in Chicago, its home for the past 26 years.
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2023
Adios Chicago: Sweets & Snacks Expo 2023 set to leave its home on a high note
Chicago in May, without the Sweets & Snacks Expo rolling into town, is going to feel different and it will also be a blow to the city’s coffers, as it is estimated the huge trade fair historically pulls in at least $21 million when it sets up shop at...
Retail
Global chocolate retail market to grow by 6% as US confectionery sales top $32bn
Latest research suggests the global chocolate retail market is expected to generate $176.20 billion by the end of 2028, up from $11.23 billion in 2021.
Gum helps combat sugar cravings with 'sugar destroyer' ingredient
Israeli food-tech startup Sweet Victory has released a chewing gum designed to curb sugar cravings. A consumer study on the gum found that it enabled its users to significantly cut down on sweets, as well as lose weight. The product, which is already...
Sweets & Snacks Expo 2023
Sweets & Snacks Expo opens registration for 2023 as it prepares to exit Chicago
The Sweets & Snacks Expo has announced registration is now open for the 2023 show, which takes place at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago from 22 to 25 May.
Growth in non-chocolate candy is outpacing all other confectionery market segments, says NCA report
As 2022 draws to close on what has been a challenging year for many industries, chocolate and candy continues to buck the trend in the US, according to a new report by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) that reveals non-chocolate candy is a...
Analyst reaction to transaction
Mondelēz sells part of gum business to rival Perfetti Van Melle for $1.3bn
Mondelēz International has announced it has entered into definitive agreements to sell its developed-market gum business in the United States, Canada and Europe to Italian-Dutch company, and European rival, Perfetti Van Melle Group for $1.350bn.