Latest sector study finds global confectionery fillings market set to rise

Continued growth for the confectionery fillings market has been projected by a new study that places its worth at more than $150 billion by 2030, amid broader upward trends for premium chocolate, writes Neill Barston.

As Confectionery Production has previously reported, the overall market has shown a sustained pattern of growth throughout the pandemic, despite headwinds from economic uncertainty and ingredients supply shortages and price increases linked to the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.

However, the latest report from Global Market Insights stated that both fruit and non-fruit based confectionery fillings are on the rise, with customers keen to secure products with high nutrition claims.

According to the study, new trends in the fast-food sector have also accelerated the use of different fillings like peanut butter jelly, and chocolate spreads in confectionery products. In recent years, Hazelnut flavors and fillings have grown popular across chocolates and other popular offerings.

Furthermore, GlobalData noted that consumer demand for reviving classic nut-flavoured products has encouraged confectionery brands to develop new fillings that consist of almonds, pistachios, and other nuts. In December 2021, Swiss chocolatier and confectionery company Lindt introduced a new range of Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles with pistachio filling. It represents the consistent need for understanding and developing suitable products to meet diverse consumer tastes, while fillings producers aim to strengthen their market position.

In the new study, specific fillings markets had shown notable potential, including premium sugar confectionery, including hard candies, creams, premium sugar confectioneries such as hard candies, fondants, creams, toffee, caramel, and pastes.

The report also noted that there had been an additional pattern of growth in the sales of sugar candy in the US and Canada,  offering additional potential within the region, as its market continues to grow. Underlining this, in 2021, around USD 36.9 billion was recorded from candy sales through retail, bookstores, airports and vending machines in America. Linked to this, nut-based confectionery fillings, such as Nutella, are projected to take a  market share of over USD 40 billion by 2030.

As Confectionery Production previously reported with a special focus featuring the NCA, it believed that the rising sales of the past few years are projected to continue in spite of market challenges.