Sweet Brazilian determination despite currency concerns

The Brazilian confectionery industry is seeing a strong level of investment, strengthened focus on additional product categories and new product launches despite its export business struggling with currency devaluation and the subsequent necessary contract adjustments. This was evident at the recent 12th Sweet Brazil International exhibition in Recife, Brazil.

Abicab, the Brazilian confectionery manufacturer’s association behind the exhibition, is also expanding investments in developments arising from the country’s naturally large selection of fruits to produce new flavours ” both natural and artificial. Peanuts, the most recent addition to Abicab’s cover areas, are also a growing market.

Getulio Ursulino Netto, president of Abicab, notes that production volumes currently stand at 994,000 tonnes per year, mostly for domestic consumption. “There are 185 million people in Brazil, which is part of the reason for our high production figures. Our economy is also growing and the proportion of people with more disposable incomes is expanding.”

A key issue for the association has been to change consumers’ perception of chocolate. “We have tried to highlight the milk and cocoa contents in the chocolate products. Currently, the chocolate production figures are surpassing that of sugar confectionery and consumption is growing,” notes Netto. Since 1996, the chocolate production has more than doubled to reach 517,000 tonnes a year.

More than 150 new products were launched at Sweet Brazil International. These included Boavitense’s flat and ball lollipops, chewy sweets and candy toys. Fini presented its new marshmallow volcanoes with strawberry fillings and chewing gums in assorted fruit flavours shaped as tennis balls, both with no saturated fat.

Florestal, one of the largest confectionery producers in the country launched its Arrepius lollipop, a version of the wider trend of tongue tattoos ” flat lollipops that leave a distinct mark on your tongue. Florestal’s product features designs of spiders, cockroaches, flies and ants and its heart Temptation lollipop is the first flat lollipop produced in Brazil, according to the company.

For Confectionery Production’s in-depth report on the exhibition, the new product launches and the state of the Brazilian confectionery market, please see the upcoming September issue.

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