Confectionery industry in the U.S. - statistics & facts

The confectionery industry is comprised of two segments: flour-based confectionery and sugar confectionery. Both categories are characterized by the use of a significant amount of sugar and sugar substitutes. Confectionery is generally low in micronutrients like vitamins and minerals, but rich in calories and carbohydrates. Chocolate confectionery falls under sugar confectionery but is occasionally treated as its own category. Sugar confectionery includes candies, gum, and sometimes ice cream.

U.S. market size and segments

Bakers’ or flour confections such as preserved pastry goods and cakes account for the second-largest share of the U.S. confectionery market. The category generated a revenue of 81 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. The second-largest segment of the confectionery market is chocolate, valued at almost 52 billion U.S. dollars. Other sugar confections accounted for a revenue of close to 36 billion dollars, leaving about 18 billion dollars to the ice cream segment. Chocolate bars are the top seller in the chocolate confectionery category. For other sugar confectionery, the leading category is pastilles, gummies, jellies, and chews.

Companies and brands

Hershey and Mars are the two leading companies in the U.S. confectionery market. Taken together, they control about 45 percent of the market. Consequently, both companies rank high in top lists for sales of chocolate and sugar confectionery. Another company that generates billions of sales in sugar confectionery (excluding chocolate confectionery) is Ferrero. It ranks third in confectionery market share. All three companies regularly launch new products in the U.S. market. As a chocolate brand, Hershey’s performs better in brand awareness than similar chocolate products. Approximately 69 percent of Americans who eat chocolate eat the Hershey's brand.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, May 17, 2023

Key insights

Leading global confectionery company
Mars Inc.
U.S. confectionery market share of Mars
22.9%
Market revenue of the confectionery market (including ice cream) in the U.S.
191bn USD
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Retail sales of chocolate confectionery/snack products the United States in 2021, by category (in million U.S. dollars)

Confectionery

Retail sales of chocolate confectioneries/snacks in the U.S. in 2021, by category

Leading brands of chocolate under 3.5 oz in the United States in 2021, by sales (in million U.S. dollars)

Confectionery

Leading brands of chocolate under 3.5 oz in the U.S. in 2021, by sales

Revenue of the confectionery market in the United States from 2017 to 2027, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Confectionery

Confectionery market revenue in the US 2017-2027, by segment

Related topics

Recommended

6

Recommended statistics

Overview

5

Overview

Segments

11

Segments

Seasonal candy

9

Seasonal candy

Companies

6

Companies

Brands

13

Brands

Consumption

4

Consumption

Further reportsGet the best reports to understand your industry

Chocolate in the United States
Chocolate in the United States
Snack foods in the U.S.
Snack foods in the U.S.
Seasonal candy in the U.S.
Seasonal candy in the U.S.
Lindt & Sprüngli
Lindt & Sprüngli
The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company
Bread and bakery products in the U.S.
Bread and bakery products in the U.S.

Contact

Get in touch with us. We are happy to help.
Statista Locations
Contact Meredith Alda
Meredith Alda
Client Support Specialist– Contact (United States)
Email
support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Contact Yolanda Mega
Yolanda Mega
Operations Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)

Contact Kisara Mizuno
Kisara Mizuno
Senior Business Development Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
support.japan@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

Contact Lodovica Biagi
Lodovica Biagi
Director of Operations– Contact (Europe)
Email
eu.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

Contact Carolina Dulin
Carolina Dulin
Associate Director - LAC– Contact (Latin America)
Email
support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Menu