The U.S. confectionery market is expected to see about $6 billion in increased sales in the next five years, and premium products are driving the growth. But the industry is growing faster globally than it is domestically and commodity costs are impacting costs from the farm to the finished product.
The acquisition will firmly establish Lindt as the No. 3 chocolate candy manufacturer in the U.S. market—still behind Hershey and Mars, but now firmly ahead of Swiss rival and global food leader Nestlé.