What you need to know
Even the demonisation of sugar has not suppressed the sweet tooth of UK consumers or dent demand for sugar confectionery. Value sales of sweets increased 2% year-on-year in 2019 to reach £1,507 million, while the rate of annual volume growth lagged slightly behind at 1.9%. Their undiminished popularity is underpinned by the status of sweets as an affordable, permissible and mood-boosting treat.
While volume sales of gum have remained stable, the decline in value sales continued in 2019, these falling by 3.7% to £283 million. The market remains dogged by a number of major issues. These include the social stigma attached to chewing gum, problems around disposal, concerns over the ingredients in gum and perceptions that chewing gum could be bad for gut health. It is likely that the key to reversing the fortunes of this market will be the development of affordable natural gum, but there is also notable interest in gum with breath-freshening herbs/spices other than mint.
Thanks to the strength of sugar confectionery, the overall market is in good shape and volume sales are expected to continue to edge up. Its low-cost feelgood factor will become even more desirable should consumers’ real incomes become squeezed again and their confidence dented, which is looking increasingly likely amid the COVID-19 outbreak. NPD will continue to be vital for companies to capitalise on this opportunity, with lower-sugar sweets, vegan sweets, premium sweets and sweets with British ingredients all warranting more attention in the mainstream.
Products covered in this Report
This Report examines the UK retail market for sugar confectionery (including mints) and gum. Mintel’s definition includes products sold through the retail channel, including:
Soft confectionery (such as jelly sweets, pastilles)
Standard and power mints
Hard confectionery (such as boiled sweets, toffees, caramels)
Functional confectionery (such as medicated confectionery)
Chewing gum and bubble gum
Other confectionery (such as loose pick’n’mix and lollipops).
It excludes sales of chocolate confectionery. Sales via catering or foodservice establishments are excluded; however, references and comparisons to these sectors may be made where relevant.
