Is UK confectionery doomed?

A recently published NHS report found that between 1997 and 2010 average consumption of sugar confectionery and chocolate in the UK fell by 39 percent among four to ten year olds and by 35 percent among 11 to 18 year olds.

So the facts suggest that in the UK, children are eating less confectionery. A good thing for childhood health in many ways but is this going to have a significant impact on the growth of the UK confectionery market going forward and is this reduction in childhood consumption really noticeable in all areas?

 

Sweet Retailing recently discussed the new confectionery Key Note report, which certainly suggested good growth for the UK confectionery market throughout 2012 and then a slower rate of growth until 2016.

 

Would it be right to assume that if childhood confectionery consumption is falling, that adult consumption of confectionery in the UK is the significant key to growth? Many of us are certainly turning to our favourite sweeties and chocolates to get us through the economic turmoil! What will we do when the UK economy has bounced back?

 

It’s an interesting one. If children are eating fewer sweets these days, such habits are likely to stay with them as they become adults. Would this suggest that the UK confectionery market is doomed once the next few generations have died off and the children of today have taken our place? Given that confectionery has such a rich and fabulous history in the UK, I would personally find this hard to believe. I am quite sure that the range of confectionery available to us will change and evolve over time but surely the joy of consumption will keep us loving all things sweet for many generations to come? I sincerely hope so!

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