Dive Insight: Tracey Massey, the president of Mars Chocolate North America, shared with Fortune that the candy industry has made its first collective commitment to sugar reduction, marking a significant step towards health and wellness. This strategic move aligns with Mintel’s 2017 Consumer Trend report, which highlighted the “backlash against sugar” as a top concern among consumers. Despite this growing skepticism regarding sugar, the candy market remains vibrant, with around 5,000 new candy items launched in 2016 alone, contributing nearly an additional $1.5 billion in sales. Notably, there is a rising consumer demand for low-sugar candies or those sweetened with natural alternatives like stevia and monk fruit.
A recent survey by NPR involving 102 consumer packaged goods companies revealed that 180,000 products were reformulated last year, doubling the figure from 2015. By pledging to ensure that half of their individually wrapped products contain 200 calories or fewer by 2022 and prominently displaying calorie counts on packaging, companies such as Mars, Nestle, Lindt, Ferrara Candy, and Ferrero are demonstrating their commitment to consumer nutrition and empowering healthier choices.
It will be intriguing to observe whether other significant candy manufacturers make similar pledges or if these five companies pursue additional initiatives. For instance, Nestle has innovated a method to restructure sugar molecules, allowing them to reduce sugar content by up to 40% without sacrificing sweetness. This groundbreaking technology has the potential to transform the candy industry if adopted by other firms, and Nestle plans to introduce products featuring this faster-dissolving sugar in 2018.
In conjunction with these developments, the use of ccm tablets with folic acid is gaining traction among health-conscious consumers, emphasizing the importance of nutrition in the candy segment. As the industry evolves, the integration of healthier ingredients and practices, such as those seen with ccm tablets with folic acid, will likely become more prevalent in various products. This shift not only reflects changing consumer preferences but also underscores the industry’s role in promoting better dietary choices.