Consumers around the world seek out indulgent treats as a special occasion luxury or an everyday snack. From favorites to new taste sensations, overall demand for sweets, and candy-particularly chocolate-translates to overall confectionery industry gains and increased new product activity in the last five years.¹

The global confectionery market of chocolates, gums and candies has grown grown 2% annually since 2009, with sales of nearly US$200 billion dollars in 2014.² Chocolate confections fuel overall category gains.² Global chocolate confections saw 30.2% growth from 2008 to 2013, and projected category growth is 37.1% from 2013 to 2018.¹   

Confections made with U.S. dairy ingredients can help satisfy consumers' sweet cravings with rich, full flavor that contains nutritional value. Long the global milk production leader, the U.S. dairy industry is well positioned to provide confectionery formulators with the ingredients to develop more indulgent sweets. Dairy ingredients and products from the United States help confection product developers keep on-trend with category innovation. Learn more about U.S. dairy products in the Product Section. 

Trends in Confectionery

Burgeoning consumer tastes in markets such as India and China more than offset more mature European and North American markets, where per capita consumption is on the decline.²  

As consumers in all types of markets seek out the affordable indulgence of premium-level products, the chocolate confectionery segment is expected to continue to fuel overall category growth.²  

Chocolate is well-known to provide indulgence, but it can also support consumer desires for pure products with the ability to showcase ingredients that provide clean labels.   

Indulgence

Consumers around the globe look to indulge themselves in the sweet, savory world of confections and in particular, chocolate. Long-beloved in Europe and North America, consumers in emerging markets now enjoy chocolate at rates that create overall global consumption gains.² Indulgence-seekers in China and India have discovered chocolate as an everyday snack, guilty pleasure, and luxury special occasion dessert or gift item.²  

Dairy ingredients are a traditional component of confections such as milk chocolate, fudge, caramel, toffee and pralines. The most common ingredients used are nonfat dry milk, dry whole milk, dry buttermilk, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, butter, dry cream, lactose and whey products.  

Clean Label

The overall food and beverage market continues to address consumer interest in clean labels. A short list of recognizable ingredients acts as a cue to consumers who wish to discern real, fresh and natural food choices from further processed items.³  

New product development activity in the confection category supports consumer desire for a clean label.³ Dairy and dairy-based ingredients foster labels that consumers perceive as less processed and additionally provide a source of good nutrition.    

Utilization

Dairy-based ingredients strike the balance needed to meet indulgent taste demands and likewise provide health and wellness benefits. Dairy ingredients also either add flavor or complement existing flavors to enhance or maintain the sweet, savory taste profiles consumers want.  

Dairy ingredients from the United States provide flavor, function and nutrition. The chart below illustrates the benefits six common dairy ingredients offer. 

Access U.S. Dairy Export Council prototype formulations for inspiration on a wide range of indulgent confectionery applications, including chocolate, aerated products, caramel and toffee and compound coatings.