OUR INDUSTRY
2023 State of Treating Report
Supply chain disruption, 40-year high inflation and lingering COVID-19 concerns continued to affect confectionery shopping and consumption patterns. What did not change was the nation’s love for confectionery. Americans continued to treat themselves and others during seasonal and everyday occasions. Confectionery set new dollar sales records in 2022 — with gains far ahead of most other categories in the store. To maintain this strong momentum, NCA’s 2023 State of Treating report aims to bring a deep understanding of the confectionery consumer and market drivers to get a read on future patterns and demand.
DID YOU
KNOW?
72%
of Americans say chocolate and candy are an important part of their emotional well-being.
99%
of American households buy chocolate or candy at least once a year.
78%
of Americans believe that sharing seasonal chocolate & candy is a great American tradition.
Seasonal Insights
Access the latest insights around the confectionery industry’s “Big Four” seasons – Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and the winter holidays – as well as new seasonal candy moments, like National Candy Month.
Everyday Insights
Follow the confectionery industry’s latest successes and opportunities thanks to monthly sales recaps that capture the latest trends and track the industry’s routine performance.
Industry News
Halloween Spending Expected To Reach Record $12.2B As Participation Exceeds Pre-Pandemic Levels
Washington — Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $12.2 billion, exceeding last year’s record of $10.6 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. A record 73 percent of people will participate in Halloween-related activities this year, up from…
Hershey’s Cotten Honored By CDA As 2023 Dean
Louisville, KY — Brent Cotten, customer and industry affairs director for The Hershey Co., was named a 2023 Dean of the Industry by the Convenience Distribution Association at its recent Convenience Distribution Business Exchange (CDBX) in Louisville. Dean of the…
Butterfinger Named Official Candy Bar Of Spirit Halloween; Free Candy Giveaway Planned For This Weekend At Select Stores
Egg Harbor Township, NJ — Spirit Halloween and Ferrero North America are collaborating with the naming of Butterfinger as the official candy bar of Halloween retailer. To celebrate the partnership, Spirit Halloween is hosting a Butterfinger tasting weekend starting Friday,…
Our Story
Manufacturers of chocolate, candy, gum and mints directly employ nearly 58,000 people across the United States with almost 700,000 jobs supported in related industries, including agriculture, retail, transportation and more. Altogether, the confectionery industry contributes more than $37 billion in retail sales to the U.S. economy each year and has at least one manufacturing facility in each of the fifty U.S. states.
America’s leading chocolate and candy companies have committed to providing consumers with information, options and support as they enjoy their favorite treats, pledging half of their individually wrapped products will be available in sizes that contain 200 calories or less per pack and 90 percent will feature calorie information on the front of the pack by 2022.
Chocolate, candy, gum and mints fill a special role in our lives and in American holidays and celebrations. When enjoyed as part of a happy, balanced diet, these treats can bring people closer together, bring back fond memories and contribute to one’s emotional well-being.
Candy Moments
Special candy moments like Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and the winter holidays bring people closer together and help them connect through the sharing and gifting of candy, chocolate, gum and mints. Dive into how we’re celebrating each of these special seasonal occasions and join us by participating in the festivities.
Meet Our Industry
The confectionery industry is made up of a variety of companies that create thousands of Americans’ favorite confectionery products. Meet some of the people behind the confectionery industry and the companies that make the chocolate, candy, gum and mints millions of people across the globe enjoy every day.
