The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges for Brazilian consumers in general, leading many to increase their consumption of sweets and desserts as a way of dealing with anxiety. This movement has created opportunities for extremely indulgent products and those that offer mental health benefits. In addition, as many consumers have spent more time at home, snacking occasions during the day have also increased, favoring sweets and desserts that are sold in small portions. On the other hand, healthy eating habits have gained greater priority for a large number of Brazilians, which can be a barrier for the category. Products with healthy ingredients and sweeteners can stand out. Furthermore, the economic recession continues to impact household incomes. Responding to this, consumers have adopted the habit of preparing sweets and desserts at home as a way to save money, opening an opportunity for products that help consumers in the preparation process.

• How the COVID-19 pandemic has changed sweets and desserts consumption

• Consumption occasions by type of sweet and dessert

• Perceptions about different types of sugars and sweeteners

• Interest in sweets and desserts

This report explores different types of sweets and desserts, as well as shopping and consumption habits. The consumer survey includes the following categories:

• Ice cream/popsicles

• Chocolates (eg bars, chocolates)

• Cakes and sweet pies

• Cold desserts, such as mousses and puddings

• Gum, lollipops and candies

• Bakery desserts (eg dream, sweet bread)

• Party sweets (eg brigadeiro, beijinho)

• Sweet drinks (eg milkshakes, smoothies)

• Cookies or filled cookies

• Mixes for dessert preparation

• Fruit creams (eg papaya, açaí cream)

This Report was finished on February 15, 2021.

As the number of COVID-19 cases has increased again in several Brazilian states, restrictive measures have been adopted once more throughout the country. At the time of writing, these orders remain extremely varied across the country, depending on state governors’ evaluations of the pandemic situation and also considering states’ health indicators.

On February 4, 2020, President Jair Bolsonaro declared a national emergency. The first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Brazil on February 26, 2020. On March 11, the WHO declared COVID-19 a global health pandemic, and on March 21, São Paulo – the city with the highest number of confirmed cases – decreed quarantine.

Across Brazil, state-level stay-at-home orders rolled out from March to June 2020. After this period, nonessential businesses such as restaurants, beauty salons and shopping malls were allowed to reopen with restrictions in different states. Parks and beaches were also reopened. In the State of São Paulo, despite the authorization for schools and universities to reopen, municipalities have autonomy to decide on the matter. In the state educational network, only high school and young and adult education students went back to class.

In the State of São Paulo, on November 2, the return to the yellow phase was announced, which does not recommend the closing of commerce or state schools, but restricts the opening hours of commercial establishments and prohibits events in which the public stands up. On November 12, 2020, a decree extended for 30 days restrictions on the entry of foreigners in the country by road, other land means or waterway transport. In several cities and states, the use of face masks in public spaces is mandatory.

On December 7, 2020, the State of São Paulo announced its free vaccination plan against COVID-19 would start in January 2021. The federal government also announced an immunization plan without an exact date, but scheduled to start between March and June 2021. The total immunization of the population should extend throughout the year. Despite the disclosure of these plans, at the time of writing, no vaccine had been approved by Anvisa, the Brazilian regulatory body. Between Christmas and the post-New Year period, the State of São Paulo returned to the red phase of the pandemic, in which nonessential services had to remain closed from December 25-27, 2020, and reopened during the first three days of 2021. It is still uncertain how states and cities will respond to the growth of COVID-19 cases and hospital occupancy until the time of vaccination.