Candy has played a role in cultural traditions and celebrations for thousands of years and continues to be enjoyed by most people as an occasional treat. Data from the National Institutes of Health shows that 97% of Americans report to consume candy at least once per year. As the hard candy category has evolved, we are seeing innovations influenced by health and wellness trends and the desire for new flavor experiences.
The growth in the hard candy category was moderate this year, increasing 7.4% to $1.1 billion, for the 52-week period ending May 21, 2023, according to multi outlet data from Circana. In evaluating the category performance, unit sales were down 5.4% to 560.3 million units, and inflation and price per unit was up 13.5% to $1.99, which helped offset the decline in units and helped drive the increase in dollar sales.