Chocolate and candy can play a role in year-round celebrations, but the $4.9 billion dollar winter holidays season is where these treats shine, with more than half of consumers saying they plan to celebrate the season by gifting confectionery products, according to research gathered by the National Confectioners Association.
“A meaningful part of the excitement of the holiday season is upholding traditions – or starting new ones,” said John Downs, NCA president and CEO.
“Gifting chocolate and candy can help connect people across time and generations and invoke a sense of nostalgia or bring a modern twist to celebrations of the winter holidays. Whether family and friends are together or separate this year, these treats can play a key role in spreading joy throughout the season.”
During the holiday season and throughout the year, the confectionery industry is helping consumers manage their sugar intake by providing more transparency, choice and portion guidance options as they enjoy chocolate and candy – which is great news for the 93 percent of Americans that say chocolate and candy make the winter holidays sweeter.
To help navigate this season’s celebrations, NCA is offering a resources at AlwaysATreat.com/WinterHolidays, where consumers can find seasonal inspiration, as well as holiday fun facts, tips on ways to enjoy treats as part of a balanced lifestyle and even the right way to eat a candy cane.
The National Confectioners Association is the trade organization for the U.S. confectionery industry, which generates $37.5 billion in retail sales each year. NCA advocates for an environment that enables candy makers to thrive and works to ensure that chocolate, candy, gum and mints are celebrated for their contributions to culture, society and the economy.
The industry employs nearly 58,000 workers in more than 1,600 manufacturing facilities across all 50 states and supports an additional 635,000 jobs in related fields. The U.S. confectionery industry has made a commitment to increasing transparency, providing more portion guidance options and educating consumers about the role of confectionery in a healthy lifestyle.
