The Future of Sugar and Gum Confectionery 2026
Sugar and gum confectionery are transforming fast, driven by bold innovation, rising eco‑expectations and the evolving needs of health‑focused and ageing consumers.
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Where we are now
- In the next two years
- In five years and beyond
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IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS
- Mintel’s perspective
- The rise of premium confectionery
- Premium innovations can elevate sugar confectionery
- Consumer attitudes towards premium product positioning in categories adjacent to sugar confectionery
- Opportunities exist to explore various premium attributes in sugar confectionery
- Inspiration from Japan: focus on health, provenance and multi-sensory engagement
- Flavour and functional innovations in chewing gum
- Flavour exploration as a growth driver in the gum category
- Graph 1: new gum launches by flavour, 2021-26
- Opportunities for bold flavours, textures and experiences in gum
- Meeting wellness expectations in everyday gum
- Gum gets a healthy twist: the rise of functional benefits
- Consumer needs for functional gum: how to help brands drive strategic growth
- Consumer needs for functional gum: functional chewing gum prototypes
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IN FIVE YEARS AND BEYOND
- Mintel’s perspective
- Opportunities for the gum industry to align with eco-driven consumers
- Reinventing gum for sustainability
- Age-appropriate sugar and gum confectionery
- Seniors prioritise health, seeking tailored food and drink products
- The power of gentle textures
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Key takeaways
"Sugar and gum confectionery are transforming fast, driven by bold innovation, rising eco‑expectations and the evolving needs of health‑focused and ageing consumers."
Regina Maiseviciute-Haydon, Associate Principal, Mintel Food & Drink
Discover the future trends in the global sugar and gum confectionery market with Mintel’s Future Of report. The report identifies the key consumer and industry trends that will impact the global confectionery market over the next five years.
The most important upcoming trends in the sugar confectionery market are analysed and succinctly presented alongside relevant insights from Mintel’s consumer data. So you can understand how consumer demands will change and identify future innovation and growth opportunities.
This report also presents Mintel’s analysts’ pick of the most innovative and inspirational launches in confectionery. Understanding the future of the industry has never been so easy.
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