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Chocolate Candy

Although unit sales of chocolate candy are down across food, drug and mass channels, dollar sales are experiencing a sugar high thanks to more expensive candy. Experiencing the biggest sales jump are chocolate candy boxes, bags and bars fewer than 3.5 ounces. As candy makers begin to take their seat on the better-for-you bandwagon, many are shrinking portion sizes in an attempt to help trim waistlines.

Although unit sales of chocolate candy are down across food, drug and mass channels, dollar sales are experiencing a sugar high thanks to more expensive candy. Experiencing the biggest sales jump are chocolate candy boxes, bags and bars fewer than 3.5 ounces. As candy makers begin to take their seat on the better-for-you bandwagon, many are shrinking portion sizes in an attempt to help trim waistlines. Take for instance Snickers 2-to-Go. The candy that replaces the king-size Snickers bar comes in two pieces designed to be shared or consumed over time. A resealable twist “memory wrapper” helps preserve leftovers. Chocolate bars portioned in 100-calorie sizes are also gaining appeal. The treats are marketed under brands like York, Reese's and Hershey's. In addition, the size of Dove Chocolate bars — in flavors like dark chocolate-cranberry almond — have been shrunk into mini-bars sold three per pack. Smaller sizes come at a time when more than a dozen states have passed or proposed so-called “obesity taxes” on sweets like candy or soda to help fill budget gaps.

52 WEEKS ENDING JUNE 13, 2010 DOLLAR SALES % CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR
Supermarkets $2.9B 5.8
Drug $1.6B 0.4
F/D/Mx $5.3B 4.0
CALENDAR YEAR 2007 2008 DOLLAR SALES 2009
Supermarkets $2.6B $2.7B $2.8B
Drug $1.0B $1.5B $1.6B
F/D/Mx $4.9B $5.0B $5.2B

SUBCATEGORIES

52 WEEKS ENDING JUNE 13, 2010 DOLLAR SALES % CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR
Chocolate Candy Box/Bag/Bar (less than 3.5 ounces) $653.7M 12.8
Chocolate Candy Box/Bag/Bar (greater than 3.5 ounces) $1.2B 4.1
Chocolate Candy Snack Size $394.0M 4.8
Gift Box Chocolates $70.7M 4.3
Novelty Chocolate Candy $657.4K -51.3
Sugar Free Chocolate Candy $35.9M -0.4