Chocolate Confectionery in the US

Trends

Whilst consumers are still looking to indulge, they are also increasingly concerned with eating better. On one hand, this demand for “healthy indulgence” has limited volume sales of chocolate confectionery, which grew by merely 1% in 2016 and fell at a CAGR of -1% over the review period. Health-focused shoppers have increasingly turned to snack bars over candy bars, as brands like KIND have innovated with sweet and salty flavours that satisfy sugar cravings (and even use chocolate) but enjoy a healthier positioning. At the same time, manufacturers have innovated with products that incorporate dark chocolate, fruit, nuts or other ingredients that provide a more nutritious or lower-calorie indulgence. New brands like Brookside, Snappers and barkTHINS have emerged as major new competitors and have proven to be prime acquisition targets. At the same time, longstanding brands have innovated with better-for-you varieties like Mars’s launch of Snickers Crisper in January 2016, featuring puffed rice to deliver a lower calorie count. Demand for “healthy indulgence” in 2016 therefore created ripples in chocolate confectionery in several different ways.

Competitive Landscape

Chocolate confectionery in the US is largely controlled by two dominant companies - The Hershey Co and Mars Inc. In 2016, these two companies accounted for a combined value share of 64% across a wide portfolio of brands and categories. No other company (in NBO terms) maintains a share higher than 4%.

Prospects

In May 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalised its revisions for nutrition fact labels on packaged food products in the first major change since these labels were mandated in the 1990s. One of the most significant changes is a new required line for “added sugars” - a contested change that remained intact despite fierce industry opposition. Most manufacturers have until July 2018 to integrate these changes, and upon completion consumers will be able to see “added sugars” in grams and as a daily value percentage. This has major implications for chocolate confectionery, particularly with consumers that have increasingly villainised sugar in the context of rising diabetes rates and concerns with childhood obesity. As a result, retail volume sales are expected to stagnate in chocolate confectionery, falling slightly from 2016 to 2021.

Overview:

Discover the latest market trends and uncover sources of future market growth for the Chocolate confectionery industry in USA with research from a team of in-country analysts.

Find hidden opportunities in the most current research data available, understand competitive threats with our detailed market analysis, and plan your corporate strategy with our expert qualitative analysis and growth projections.

If you're in the Chocolate confectionery industry in USA, this research will save you time and money while empowering you to make informed, profitable decisions.

The Chocolate confectionery in USA market research report includes:

• Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
• Detailed segmentation of international and local products
• Historic volumes and values, company and brand market shares
• Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
• Robust and transparent market research methodology, conducted in-country

The market research reports answer questions such as:

• What is the market size of Chocolate confectionery in USA?
• What are the major brands in USA?
• What are market opportunities for health and wellness minded dark chocolate?
• What are market opportunities for ethically sourced chocolate?
• How might increasingly volatile cocoa bean commodity prices impact retail prices and sales performance?

Why buy this report?

• Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
• Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
• Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions

This industry report originates from Passport, our Packaged Food market research database.