Sugar-Free Confectionery Market

Sugar-Free Confectionery Market Outlook (2024 to 2034)

A new report by Fact.MR places the global sugar-free confectionery market size at a value of US$ 2.45 billion in 2024. Projections are that the market will advance at a CAGR of 5.4% to end up at US$ 4.13 billion by 2034.

Sugar-free gummies are beneficial to the teeth as the Xylitol sweetener helps slow down tooth decay.

• According to the Dental Health Association, sugar-free products such as chewing gum are good for dental health.

Recommendations from experts are driving global demand for sugar-free confectioneries such as chewing gum.

• According to the European Union and the World Dental Federation (FDI), sugar-free gum is beneficial for oral health and can prevent dental diseases.

Countries such as Germany, the U.K., and France are leading candy-consuming countries. With the growing healthy eating trend, the European region will remain a key market in this space over the coming years.

Report Attributes	Details
Sugar-Free Confectionery Market Size (2023A)	US$ 2.3 Billion
Estimated Market Value (2024E)	US$ 2.45 Billion
Forecasted Market Value (2034F)	US$ 4.13 Billion
Global Market Growth Rate (2024 to 2034)	5.4% CAGR
East Asia Market Share (2024)	21.6%
China Market Growth Rate (2024 to 2034)	6% CAGR
Key Companies Profiled	Ferrero The Hershey Company Abdallah Candies Inc. Nestle S.A Lily’s Sweets LLC Asher’s Chocolate Company Nova Chocolate Dr. John’s Healthy Sweets See’s Candy Shop, Inc. Other Prominent Players

Sugar-Free Confectionery Sales Analysis (2019 to 2023) vs. Market Projections (2024 to 2034)

The value of the sugar-free confectionery market was US$ 1.9 billion in 2019, and it increased to US$ 2.3 billion by 2023, expanding at a CAGR of 3.9%.

• Short Term (2024 to 2027): Consumer preferences are shifting toward healthier food choices. Manufacturers will be focusing more on innovating different flavors. Sugar-free chocolate confectioneries will gain popularity due to the beneficial properties of cocoa.
• Medium Term (2027 to 2030): Manufacturers will adopt different production techniques to provide a continuous supply of sugar-free confectioneries in the market. Investments will be made to minimize the side effects of artificial sweeteners.
• Long Term (2030 to 2034): Manufacturers will leverage online sales channels to increase their reach and thereby increase sales. Also, companies will use natural sweeteners in their confectioneries to sustain in the market.

Global sugar-free confectionery market growth has been forecasted at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period (2024 to 2034), as per this new report by Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider.

Why is Consumption of Sugar-Free Confectioneries Increasing Steadily?

“Increasing Diabetic Patient Pool”

Excessive sugar consumption can lead to obesity, heart disease, liver disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. Sugar-free products contain less than 0.5 grams of sugar and even have fewer calories. Consumption of sugar-free confectionaries can temporarily satisfy the craving for sweets without having a harmful effect on the body.

Sugar-free sweeteners are unique chemicals, which are 300 to 500 times sweeter than regular refined sugar in equal amounts.

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. approves sugar-free as a substitute for sugar if consumed in moderate amounts. It can be a healthier choice for diabetic patients as well as healthy people.
• According to the latest report published by IDF Diabetics Atlas, in 2021, 537 million adults were diagnosed with diabetes. It is predicted that by 2030, the number will be 643 million, and by 2045, it will reach 783 million.

“More People Choosing Healthy Lifestyle”

People are becoming more mindful while eating food to maintain fitness and lead a healthy life. More consumers are focusing on the calories or weight gain after eating food. Traditional sweet dishes are made up of loads of calories, and the use of sugar-free sweeteners can help reduce the calories. Sugar-free confectionaries can help with weight management.

• The Department of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Aspartame, Acesulfame-K, Saccharin, Sucralose, Neotame, and Advantame as low-calorie sweeteners for human use.

The safety of these additives have been ensured by legal government authorities after extensive evaluation.

• For instance, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recommended that the daily intake of low-calorie sweeteners is acceptable in moderate quantities.

What are the Challenges Encountered by Manufacturers of Sugar-Free Confectionery Items?

“Stringent Rules and Regulations Pose Challenge to Sugar-Free Confectionery Manufacturers”

Some sugar-free sweeteners have side effects such as heart disease and digestion problems if not taken in moderation. Therefore, international and government organizations are restricting the use of artificial sweeteners in food. Also, the rules of packaging have become more stringent, such as proper labeling of 'Sugar-Free', 'No Added Sugar', or 'Unsweetened' to communicate the content information clearly. These rules have been enforced to avoid misleading information to consumers such as 'Zero Calorie' or 'Low Calorie' food.

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued regulations to food manufacturers to label the nutrient content as sugar-free only if the food contains less than 0.5g of sugar.

Country-wise Insights

Why is Consumption of Sugar-Free Confectionery High in the United States?

“Healthy Eating Trend Has Gained Immense Traction”

The market in the United States is estimated at $495.8 million in 2024 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 5.6% through 2034. Sugar-free confectionery market trends point toward the country generating a $361.9 million absolute opportunity from 2024 to 2034.

The U.S. celebrates various festivals where sweet confectioneries play a major role, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. Now, more people are accepting a new trend called sugar-free Halloween.

Children are leading consumers of confectionery products. Parents play a huge role in their consumption preferences. More parents are now demanding healthy and low-sugar confectioneries.

• According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 19.7% of children and adolescents aged between 2 to 19 were affected by obesity.
• The Dietary Guidelines for Americans published by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends healthy eating habits for children, which is to avoid added sugar and to have low-fat food.

What Makes China a Lucrative Market for Sugar-Free Confectionery Manufacturers?

“Innovation in Flavors Driving Demand for Sugar-Free Chocolates”

The market in China is estimated at US$ 417 million in 2024 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 6% through 2034. It has been forecast to create a US$ 748.7 million absolute opportunity from 2024 to 2034.

People in China are believed not to have a sweet tooth as they don’t consume sugar as much as other countries.

• According to the Association of Chinese Chocolate Manufacturers, a person in China consumes approximately 70 g of chocolate per year, whereas, a person in Japan and Europe consumes 2 Kg and 7 Kg of chocolate, respectively.

This creates opportunities for chocolate manufacturers to expand their business in China. More people are turning into health-focused consumers. They are following the recent trend of low-sugar diets, and therefore, companies are also adapting themselves to meet this changing consumer demand.

• For instance, Landbase, a key player in the chocolate market in China, has widened its product portfolio by manufacturing sugar-free chocolates, which are sweetened with inulin.

Category-wise Insights

Which Sales Channel is Widely Preferred for Purchasing Sugar-Free Confectioneries?

“Hypermarkets/Supermarkets Leading Sugar-Free Confectionery Sales”

Through hypermarkets/supermarkets, demand for sugar-free confectionery is projected to increase at a CAGR of 5.5% and reach a market value of US$ 1.9 billion by 2034.

Hypermarkets and supermarkets provide a convenient shopping experience by offering an extensive product range at lower prices. Consumers generally get a variety of options in sugar-free confectioneries at these places. Companies are using this channel extensively because of their promotional and marketing schemes.

• According to the National Confectionery Association of the U.S., 68% of consumers in the U.S. buy confectioneries from supermarkets.

Which Type of Sugar-Free Confectionery is Gaining Popularity?

“Sugar-Free Chocolates Lead Revenue Generation”

Sugar-free chocolates are estimated to account for a 43.21% share of the market in 2024, and the segment is projected to reach a market valuation of US$ 2.5 billion by 2034-end, expanding a CAGR of 9.2%.

Sugar-free chocolates have emerged as healthy food items due to the antioxidants present in them. It is proven that they are good for the skin and help improve focus and concentration. Sugar-contained snacks can cause obesity; however, sugar-free dark chocolates are a good alternative since they contain fewer calories than regular chocolates. Companies are offering innovative flavors such as nutty and dry fruits, which attract more health-conscious customers.

Competitive Landscape

Key players in the sugar-free confectionery industry are Ferrero, The Hershey Company, Abdallah Candies Inc., Nestle S.A, Asher’s Chocolate Company, Nova Chocolate, Dr. John’s Healthy Sweets, and See’s Candy Shop, Inc.

Companies are investing more in experimentation with flavors of confectioneries. They are also acquiring small regional players to expand their footprint in several regions.

• In January 2024, Ferrero launched a new strawberry-flavored Tic-Tac to increase the market share of the company. Along with this launch, a refreshment of the brand has been done by updating the logo design.
• In 2022, the Hershey Company launched regular products such as peanut butter cups and chocolate bars in the sugar-free form. The step was taken to acquire more customers who are looking for healthier eating choices.

Fact.MR has provided detailed information about the price points of key manufacturers of sugar-free confectioneries positioned across regions, sales growth, production capacity, and speculative technological expansion, in the recently published report.

Segmentation of Sugar-Free Confectionery Market Research

• By Type :

  • Sugar-Fee Conventional Confections
    • Chews & Jellies
    • Gummies
    • Sweets
    • Boiled Hard Candy
    • Others (Peppermint Patties, Marshmallows)
  • Sugar-Free Chocolate Confections
    • Chocolate Bars
    • Chocolate Crunch Balls
    • Chocolate Candy
    • Caramel-Filled Chocolate
    • Others

• By Sales Channel :

  • Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
  • Convenience Stores
  • Specialty Stores
  • Online Retails

• By Region :

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Western Europe
  • Eastern Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia & Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa