CONFECTIONERY
SWEET SUCCESS
People may be more health conscious than ever, but nothing beats a sweet treat, writes Thomas Oakley-Newell.
W
ith the current movement towards better for you offerings, you could be forgiven for believing that the confectionery category is in dire straits, but you would be wrong.
Despite consumers now being more measured in what they’re putting into their bodies, the desire for a sweet treat will always be there. That need from consumers is evident through the 11.4 per cent growth the category experienced in the first half of 2021, as displayed in the AACS 2021 State of the Industry Half Year Report. While all sub-categories helped drive the category’s growth over that period, the biggest improver was sugar confectionery, up 22.1 per cent and 22.9 per cent in the second quarter. Guy Bennett, Brand Manager at GC Brands (recently rebranded from Grocery Corporation), said that consumers aren’t necessarily looking to abstain from treats but are just making more considered choices. 14
February/March 2022 | C&I | www.c-store.com.au
“Innovation offering functional benefits catering to those with dietary requirements is a huge space, and two of GC’s biggest launches into convenience in the next six months; Jelly Belly Vegan Chewy Candy and NOMO Chocolate are both vegan and allergen friendly.” Stuart Alexander & Co., distributors of products such as Mentos, Hershey’s, Fisherman’s Friend, Werther’s, and Reece’s, is another company that is using the better for you trend to drive innovation. Amanda Monzo of Stuart Alexander and Co. said they’ve noticed the emergence of the zero-sugar trend that has played out in beverages now reaching confectionery, as well as better for you products that have an absence of negatives. “We’ve responded to this consumer trend with new Mentos Candy Sugar Free Chews 45g, available in two classic Mentos candy flavours ‘Peppermint’ and ‘Fruit’, made with no artificial sweeteners and in a recycle friendly cardboard flip top box. However, the trend to treat and indulge also continues to have an important role to play in helping consumers find balance in health and wellbeing.”
