Germany Sugar and Gum Confectionery Market Analysis
After a decline in 2023, the Germany Sugar and Gum Confectionery Market is expected to grow in this year, with value sales projected to rise. Looking ahead, both Sugar Confectionery market and Gum Confectionery market are forecasted to see almost 30% increase in retail value sales from in the foreseeable future, with more modest growth in volume. This growth will be driven by consumer demand for healthier, sustainable, and plant-based options, as well as functional products targeting mental and physical well-being, alongside the affordability and innovation in the sector.
Germany Sugar and Gum Confectionery Market Trends
Consumer trends in the Germany Sugar and Gum Confectionery Market are shifting towards health-conscious and ethical choices. Younger consumers, especially those aged 16-34, are increasingly seeking products that offer functional benefits, such as mental performance support, stress relief, and weight management. There is a growing preference for plant-based, natural, and sustainably sourced ingredients, with many consumers avoiding animal-derived ingredients like gelatine. Additionally, there is rising interest in eco-friendly packaging, with a significant demand for biodegradable and plastic-free options. Overall, consumers are looking for a balance between indulgence and wellness, favouring products that are both treat-worthy and aligned with their health and environmental values Sugar and Gum Confectionery Market.
Purchasing the Germany Sugar and Gum Confectionery Market Report 2025 reveals a shift towards healthier, sustainable products, with rising demand for plant-based, low-sugar, and biodegradable options. Consumers are also seeking affordable premium products, driven by innovations in unique flavours, functional benefits, and eco-friendly packaging.
About The Report
The Germany Sugar and Gum Confectionery Market Report 2025 provides in-depth insights into the current market trends, consumer preferences, and emerging opportunities in the confectionery sector. It covers key areas such as product innovation, health-conscious trends, sustainability, and functional benefits, including plant-based, low-sugar, and biodegradable options. The report surveys consumer behaviour, purchasing patterns, and demand for premium yet affordable products in the Sugar Market and Gum Confectionery Market. Industry stakeholders, including confectionery manufacturers, retailers, health-focused brands, and sustainability-driven companies, will benefit from this comprehensive analysis, enabling them to make informed decisions and capitalize on opportunities in the Confectionery Market and Sugar and Gum Confectionery Market size in Germany.
Key Topics Analyzed in the Report
- Soft confectionery (such as jelly sweets, pastilles)
- Standard and power mints
- Hard confectionery (such as boiled sweets, toffees, caramels)
- Functional confectionery (such as medicated confectionery)
- Chewing gum and bubble gum
- Other confectionery (such as loose pick’n’mix and lollipops)
| Report Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Published Date | May 2025 |
| Data Range | 2019-2029 |
| Measurement Metrics | Revenue in € |
| Country Focus | Germany |
| Consumer Data | 2,000 internet users aged 16+, March 2025 |
| Number of Pages | 68 |
| Market Segmentation | Jelly/Gummy Sweets, Hard Candy, Chewy Sweets, Marzipan, Toffees/Caramels, Mints, Liquorice Sweets, Marshmallows, Mint-Flavored Gum, and Gum with Flavors Other Than Mint |
| Leading Companies | Haribo, Wrigley’s, Katjes, ALDI SÜD, Em-eukal, Lidl, Mentos, M&S, Trolli, Birkengold, and Chupa Chups |
Meet the Expert Behind the Analysis
This report was written by Hannah Sandow. After joining Mintel in 2017, Hannah gained significant experience in quantitative and qualitative research working with GNPD and Mintel Market Sizes before joining German Reports. Drawing from her academic background in Health Science, she now researches and writes about German consumer and market trends on the topics of Health & Wellbeing.
Explore value-led NPD as interest in BFY and novelty grows, but without overlooking planetary health considerations.
Hannah Sandow
Associate Director – Food & Drink, Germany
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- What you need to know
- Opportunities
- Market size & forecast for sugar & gum confectionery
- Value sales rises expected to outpace inflation up to 2029
- Graph 1: retail value sales of sugar & gum confectionery, 2019-29
- 2024 witnessed a volume sales dip, but sales are predicted to increase modestly longer term
- Graph 2: retail volume sales of sugar & gum confectionery, 2019-29
- The five year outlook for sugar and gum confectionery
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OPPORTUNITIES
- Showcase product functionality beyond the norm
- Take functional ingredient inspiration from chocolate confectionery
- Target younger demographics with functional health claims
- Concept inspiration with cognitive benefits
- Concept inspiration with physical benefits
- The rise of GLP-1 drugs gives scope to promote chewing gum as an appetite suppressant
- Consider gum’s appetite-suppressing and weight management-supporting ability
- Promote ‘dentist approved’ gum to women
- Graph 3: consumer interest in gum that is approved by dentists, by gender, 2025
- Deliver value and excitement through novel formats and flavours
- Position sweet confections as value-led craving satisfiers and satiating ‘boosters’
- More experimental NPD combines ‘the chew’ with creative and exciting flavours
- Freeze-dried confectionery is fun and full of flavour
- Future-proof with plant-based, natural and sustainably sourced confectionery
- Plant-based diets remain important to Germans, offering more scope for plant-based ingredients
- Graph 4: sugar & gum confectionery launches with vegetable-based or plant-based ingredient claims, 2020-24
- Plant-based gums are one avenue for revenue growth
- Non-ultra processed, low sugar and natural ingredients are the way forward for sugar confectionery
- Gelatine-free product development warrants attention
- Advocate for palm oil removal or sustainably sourced production
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CONSUMER
- Types of sweets and gum eaten/used
- Consumption of sweets/gum increases in 2025
- Graph 5: consumption/use of sweets or gum in the last three months, 2020-25
- Sweets and gum usage is highest among Gen Z/Millennials, but all ages have an affinity to the category
- Graph 6: consumption/use of sweets or gum in the last three months, by age, 2025
- Jelly/gummy sweets remain Germans’ favourites
- Graph 7: types of sugar and gum confectionery eaten/used, 2023 and 2025
- Frequency and motivations for eating sweets
- More Germans are eating sweets every day
- Graph 8: frequency of using sugar confectionery in the last three months, 2023 and 2025
- Half of Germans eat sweets to satisfy a craving
- Graph 9: reason for eating sweets in the last three months, 2025
- More women than men seek sweets to satisfy a craving
- Target women with ‘crave-worthy’ goodness that meets wellness needs
- Mood ‘boosting’ properties in sweets appeal to all
- Frequency of using gum and interest in gum with select features
- Gum is used by fewer Germans than sweets, but more often
- Graph 10: frequency of using gum confectionery in the last three months, 2023 and 2025
- Gum to support mental performance warrants attention
- Graph 11: interest in gum with select features, 2025
- Diversify beyond breath freshening to promote use of gum
- Half of Germans would like to see more gum made with all-natural ingredients
- Graph 12: consumers who would like to see more gum made with all-natural ingredients, by age, 2025
- Biodegradable gum appeals to almost three in 10 users aged under 54
- Graph 13: consumer interest in biodegradable gum, by age, 2025
- Drive the growth of plant-based gum
- Give more prominence to biodegradability
- Attitudes and behaviours towards sweets and gum
- Younger consumers are most ethically minded and are deterred by plastic packaging
- Brands push the plastic-free agenda
- 30% sugar removal or a ‘health by stealth’ approach for NPD would be most beneficial to Germans
- Graph 14: health-related attitudes towards gum & sweets, 2025
- Smaller pack sizes resonate with young families
- Graph 15: behaviours related to gum & sweet pack formats, 2025
- DIY makes for a creative activity, particularly for young adults and kids
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INNOVATION
- Soft confectionery takes the lead for consumption, sales and NPD
- Graph 16: sugar and gum confectionery launches, by sub-category, 2021-24
- Environmentally friendly, recyclable packs top the eco-ethical claims for sugar and gum confectionery
- Graph 17: launches of sugar and gum confectionery, by top eco-ethical claims, 2019-24
- While additives/preservatives are being removed, organic NPD is on the decline
- Graph 18: sugar & gum confectionery launches, by top five natural claims, 2020-24
- Average sugar and calorie content of sugar and gum launches edges down
- Sugar quantity reduction is apparent within the category
- Graph 19: average sugar and calorie content of sugar & gum confectionery launches, 2020-24
- Mitigating the sugar spike; sugar & gum confectionery formats make use of sweeteners
- Graph 20: sugar & gum confectionery launches by selected sugar & sweeteners used, 2020-24
- With uncertainty around gum’s negative impact on digestive health, NPD in low/no polyols is the way forward
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MARKET
- Market drivers
- CPI for sugar confectionery is slowing
- Graph 21: CPI for chewing gum, gummy bears or the like vs food & non-alcoholic beverages, 2024-25
- Consumers will increasingly opt for confectionery with natural ingredients
- Microplastic exposure in chewing gum
- UK brand Nuud calls for a ban on plastic gum
- Science finds new uses for chewing gum
- Market size and segmentation
- Rising costs of raw materials drive value sales increases; but 2024 witnessed a volume sales dip
- Graph 22: value market size for sugar & gum confectionery, 2020-24
- Graph 23: volume market size for sugar & gum confectionery, 2020-24
- Gum market growth outperforms sugar confectionery
- Sugar & gum confectionery saw slower value growth in 2024 than in 2023
- Volume sales witnessed a slight fall in 2024
- Market forecast
- Value sales rises expected to outpace inflation up to 2029
- Graph 24: retail value sales of sugar & gum confectionery, 2019-29
- Volume sales are predicted to increase modestly longer term
- Graph 25: retail volume sales of sugar & gum confectionery, 2019-29
- Forecast – note on US trade disruption
- German sugar and gum confectionery exporters will be hit hard by new US tariffs
- Market share
- Haribo continues to lead the market; Mars gained the most value share in 2024
- Haribo takes the top spot for market volume and gained most share in 2024
- Haribo’s factors for growth
- Haribo’s Pico-Balla has textural appeal
- Mars’ value share increase could in part be attributed to Wrigley’s NPD and sustainability agenda
- Mars Wrigley’s ‘Mind Mouth’ campaign
- Katjes ‘bundles & boxes’ supports online brand growth
- ‘There is enough animal in you’ campaign
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APPENDIX
- Report scope and definitions
- Market definition
- Abbreviations
- Methodology – consumer research
- Consumer research methodology
- A note on language
- Methodology – market size and forecast
- Forecast methodology
- Forecast methodology – fan chart
- Market size – value
- Market size – volume
- Market forecast and prediction intervals – value
- Market forecast and prediction intervals – volume
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