News and Information

2026/03/23

Why are gummy candies so popular?

Thanks to its unique eating experience, gummy candy has become a popular casual snack, with the core reasons lying in its texture, flavor, and suitability for various occasions. In terms of texture, gummies are delightfully chewy and soft, offering a bouncy yet effortless bite that’s easier on the teeth than hard candies, making them accessible to people of all ages. The slow, leisurely chewing process provides a soothing sensory experience, making gummies an ideal choice for everyday relaxation. Flavor-wise, gummies come in a wide array of tastes—fruit, dairy, sweet-and-sour, and more—to suit diverse preferences. Some varieties even feature fillings or molten centers, adding depth and fun to the eating experience. At the same time, their sweetness is well balanced, avoiding any cloying aftertaste, which makes them perfect for occasional, small-portion consumption. Appearance and portability are also key factors. Gummies often come in small, cute shapes with soft, appealing colors that instantly win over the eye. Their individual, single-serve packaging makes them easy to carry, whether during a work break, an outing, or a get-together with friends—ready to enjoy anytime and fitting seamlessly into a variety of daily scenarios. Moreover, gummies require no complicated preparation; they’re ready to eat straight out of the package, offering a quick and satisfying treat for a casual snack. This simple yet enjoyable experience has made gummies a staple in everyday snacking, ensuring their enduring popularity.

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2026/03/23

The Role of Artificial Intelligence Tools in the Confectionery Industry

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a key driving force behind the new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation. The 2023 Central Economic Work Conference emphasized the need to vigorously advance new-type industrialization, develop the digital economy, and accelerate AI development. In recent years, the deep integration of AI into the food industry has injected fresh momentum into its growth. According to data released by market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the value of AI applications in the food and beverage market is projected to reach US$29.94 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of over 45.77% from 2021 to 2026. As AI continues to permeate every aspect of the food industry, how to objectively assess its positive contributions and potential adverse impacts has become a central topic of heated debate among industry professionals and academics alike. Designing recipes, creating packaging—AI has been fully integrated into the entire value chain of food brand operations. At the beginning of 2023, the emergence of ChatGPT and other AI technologies sparked a wave of “AI+” innovations across multiple areas of the food industry, including marketing, packaging, and product development. “AI technology holds vast application prospects and market potential in the food and beverage sector, playing a crucial role in R&D, production, sales, and quality control,” said Guo Tao, a senior AI expert. “AI can boost operational efficiency, enabling companies to optimize their sales models, transform product R&D and innovation processes, and fundamentally reshape the competitive landscape of the food and beverage industry.” Earlier, Coca-Cola’s global creative platform, “Unlimited Creativity,” launched a limited-edition new product: the first sugar-free cola co-created with AI, dubbed “Future 3000 Years.” Reportedly, AI was employed throughout the entire process—from flavor formulation and packaging design to product promotion. In addition, many food brands are leveraging AI as a pivotal enabler of digital transformation, constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Nestlé is one of the earliest food and beverage companies to invest in AI, equipping its employees with generative AI tools to streamline daily operations and enhance productivity. At the end of 2023, McDonald’s announced a partnership with Google to deploy generative AI for analyzing massive datasets from thousands of restaurants, aiming to further improve store-level operational efficiency. AI technology is ushering in a disruptive technological revolution in the food industry. Beyond providing supportive assistance in everyday office work, AI also demonstrates remarkable efficiency and “natural talent” in accelerating new-product development, generating innovative ideas, and precisely capturing consumer taste preferences. In October 2022, Kraft Heinz unveiled a plant-based cheese developed using AI technology. In March 2023, Zhong Xue Gao introduced an ice cream line that leverages “AI-powered full-chain creation,” with AI underpinning everything from naming and flavor selection to packaging design and marketing. In April, Yili launched six milk carton designs created by AI, each aligned with one of six core themes: “tech-savvy,” “natural vitality,” “Eastern aesthetics,” “futurism,” “minimalism,” and “innocence.” In May, Wang Lao Ji rolled out its first batch of cans independently designed by AI—namely, the “Mountains and Rivers for Thousands of Miles” can, the “Mountain Stream Moonlight” can, the “Climbing High to View Autumn” can, and the “Pine Trees Soaring to the Clouds” can. A representative from Wang Lao Ji noted: “In both production and design, AI technology can deliver more diverse creative and technical support; and in fields like design, which rely heavily on creativity, companies can use AI tools to present creative concepts more efficiently.”

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2026/03/04

2026 Candy Market Trends

With the upgrading of consumer spending, traditional food products are increasingly emphasizing health attributes, and the confectionery industry is also undergoing transformation and upgrading toward greater healthfulness. At present, the entire confectionery sector is seeking new breakthroughs in innovative areas such as functional formulations, plant-based nutrition, and sugar reduction, which has become a key manifestation of the industry’s innovation trend. Functional Confections Within the confectionery category, functionality represents a highly promising avenue for development. Although the market share of functional confections remains relatively small at present, their health benefits nonetheless constitute a significant and hard-to-ignore driver of profit growth. According to data from the China Business Industry Research Institute, functional confections are experiencing robust growth in the domestic market, with the market size projected to exceed RMB 8.6 billion in 2022. Meanwhile, NBJ data indicate that global sales of functional confections doubled within just four years—from 2014 to 2018. Among functional confections, gummy candies are particularly popular. According to Tmall consumption data, in 2020 functional gummies emerged as the fastest-growing health product format among younger demographics such as the post-1990s and Gen Z cohorts. The market now offers a wide array of functional gummies, including those fortified with vitamins and minerals, DHA gummies, yeast-zinc gummies, probiotic gummies, melatonin gummies, and collagen gummies, among others. The introduction of functional confections marks a strategic extension of traditional confectionery brands into the premium segment, reflecting consumers’ increasingly sophisticated and multifaceted demands for confectionery products. Sugar-Free Confections As health-consciousness continues to rise, “low-sugar” and “sugar-free” have become mainstream trends, with consumers no longer limiting their expectations for confectionery products to mere nutritional value but instead seeking lower-sugar or even sugar-free options. Against the backdrop of a global movement toward reduced sugar intake, everyday demand for traditional confectionery is gradually shrinking. According to the “In-Depth Market Research and Investment Strategy Recommendations Report on the Confectionery Industry (2019–2023),” China’s confectionery output fell by 6.0% in 2017, dropping from 3.52 million tonnes in 2016 to 3.31 million tonnes; in 2018, production further declined to 2.88 million tonnes, a year-on-year drop of 13.0%, and this downward trend continues to accelerate. In response, numerous companies have launched sugar-free lollipops, such as Xufuji’s “Dr. Bear” Sugar-Free Lollipop, Three Squirrels’ “Little Deer Lanlan” Sugar-Free Lollipop, and Tang Lifang’s Sugar-Free Lollipop. The prospects for the development of sugar-free confections are thus highly promising. Plant-Based Confections The rise of plant-based products represents another major consumer trend in the confectionery market. Data show that between 2016 and 2020, candy products marketed as “vegetarian” achieved an average annual compound growth rate of 17%, while last year the average annual compound growth rate for products labeled “plant-based” more than doubled. To meet the growing consumer demand for plant-based products, confectionery manufacturers are progressively phasing out ingredients such as dairy, gelatin, and carmine, as these alternatives are not only perceived as healthier but also more ethical and sustainable. For instance, the Canadian confectionery brand Yumy Bear has introduced low-sugar, vegan gummy bears that use plant-based ingredients in place of gelatin. In recent years, as consumer health needs have become increasingly diversified, many confectionery producers have made the development of new products that align with these demands a top priority. The continuous stream of innovative offerings has injected fresh vitality into the confectionery market. Riding on the tailwind of the “health” trend, the confectionery industry is steadily moving forward.

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2026/03/23

What is the market size and development trend of functional candies?

Currently, functional candies are enjoying steady market growth thanks to their close alignment with everyday consumption patterns, with overall development trending toward greater rationality and standardization. In terms of market size, domestic functional candies are steadily increasing their share of the snack food category, with a growth rate markedly higher than that of traditional candy segments. As consumers pay closer attention to dietary pairing in daily life and consumption scenarios continue to diversify, the overall market continues to expand, making functional candies one of the most dynamic sub-segments within the confectionery industry. Looking at development trends, first, product formulations are increasingly tailored to meet everyday consumer needs, with optimization focused on nutritional supplementation and dietary compatibility, and with raw material selection and formulation combinations becoming more scientific and rational. Second, low-sugar and sugar-free formulations are becoming mainstream, aligning with consumers’ preference for lighter, less burdensome diets. Product formats are predominantly easy-to-consume styles, while also evolving toward greater diversity to suit different lifestyle settings such as the office, travel, and home. The consumer base is expanding further, with products available to cater to various age groups, and market segmentation is continually deepening. Industry regulation is steadily improving, prompting companies to place greater emphasis on product quality and accurate information labeling, thereby driving the industry toward greater standardization. In terms of distribution channels, online–offline integration is advancing, with convenience stores, supermarkets, and e-commerce platforms all serving as key sales outlets, as the industry moves steadily toward higher quality, finer segmentation, and greater compliance.

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