Despite the debate surrounding sugar’s role in the nation’s diets and obesity crisis, four in five adults ate sweets in the six months up to September 2014. However, the recent media focus on sugar has not gone unnoticed by consumers with four in 10 users who eat sweets less often than most days limiting how often they eat sweets because they are unhealthy. This has been reflected in volume declines in the market in recent years. However, consumers’ openness to reduced sugar sweets offers an area of further development for manufacturers.

Chewing gum lags noticeably behind sweets, only eaten by 38% of people. However, tooth decay is now the biggest cause of primary school children being hospitalised, which could create an opportunity for gum manufacturers, given the approved dental health claims of sugar-free gums.

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 sweet, toffees, caramels)

• functional confectionery (such as medicated confectionery)

• chewing gum and bubblegum

• other confectionery (such as loose pick n’ mix and lollipops).

It excludes sales via catering or foodservice establishments, however, references and comparisons to these sectors may be made where relevant.

Value figures throughout this report are at retail selling prices (rsp) unless stated otherwise. Market sizes at constant 2014 prices are devised using Mintel’s food deflator.