Confectionery industry: current innovations | Alimentos SAS

Innovation is a constant in the confectionery industry. Players in this sector are concerned with renewing their offerings to continue capturing the attention of consumers. These are the main trends dominating the scene today.

ABC in the confectionery industry

Confectionery includes various products, including chocolates, cookies, different kinds of candies, chewing gum, and frozen desserts. In 2021, its global market reached US $298 billion. Its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is estimated to be 4.3% between 2022 and 2028 (Grand View Research, 2022.)

These are the key growth drivers in the industry (Grand View Research, 2022):

·        Increasing disposable consumer income.

·        Rapid global urbanization.

·        Inclination to give sweets as gifts.

Sweet leaders

Chocolate is the segment with the largest market share in the industry, with more than 45% according to 2021 data. Additionally, it is the most consumed candy per capita globally. The sugary confectionery segment is expected to grow by 4.9% between 2022 and 2028. It is the fastest sector growth (Grand View Research, 2022.)

With this in mind, let us explore the innovation trends that are shaping the course of this industry.

Natural ingredients

In recent years, natural ingredient confectionery has grown in popularity. Industry data indicates that about half of consumers prefer products with more naturally sourced components (Grand View Research, 2022). Fruit purees and fruit pulps stand out, as they offer various benefits (Persistence Market Research, 2023):

·        They are potent sweeteners.

·        They provide natural flavor.

·        They provide high nutritional content of the natural fruit.

·        They are easy to store and preserve.

In fact, purees are used to produce numerous products in the confectionery industry, including bakery items, jams, fruit sauces, and candies (Persistence Market Research, 2023). Their use contributes to the implementation of trends, such as exotic flavors and tropical fruit products (Bhavana and Roshan, 2020.)

Functionality

Consumers are currently looking for multifunctional foods. Confectionery is no alien to this phenomenon. Producers are including functional ingredients in their processes. Similarly, organic herbal fillings are also being seen more frequently in confectionery production (Bhavana and Roshan, 2020.)

Unusual products in the confectionery industry

Adults are the biggest buyers of sweets, and brands develop interesting products for them. Examples include spicy or spicy options and products that integrate other flavors —such as salty ice cream—. Similarly, there are sweets that explode in the mouth, or which have refreshing effects (Bhavana and Roshan, 2020.)

Attracting the consumer's attention is the driving force for candy producers. Candies are usually bought on impulse (Bhavana and Roshan, 2020). Therefore, the desire to innovate is characteristic of the confectionery industry.