Less than half of the population consumes nutritional bars and shakes, leaving plenty of room in the category, a new report by Packaged Facts found.

June is also National Candy Month. While it’s a great excuse to savor some of our favorite treats, it also offers an opportunity to reflect on some of the positive trends and developments in our industry.

In the 11th edition of “Chocolate Candy Market in the U.S.,” Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, reports that premium chocolate makes up just 18 percent of total chocolate dollar sales and 14 percent of unit sales, but it still leads the way in developing flavor trends and new product formulations, particularly in the use of clean-label ingredients.

In the fifth edition of “Food Gifting in the U.S.,” Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, reports that 28 percent of consumers gave boxed chocolates and candies to someone else in the last 12 months.