C-Store Candy Trends: Gummies, Textures and Swedish Favorites

By James Calloway

Candy sales rose 6.2% across all retailers over the past year, but fell 0.2% in convenience stores during the 52 weeks ending Sept. 6, according to Circana. Circana also reported a 0.7% decline for nonchocolate candy sales in convenience retail. Chocolate sales in convenience retail were essentially flat. Candy has long been a staple at c-store checkouts. The category is shifting quickly.

Why are gummies the first growth bet?

Dan Sadler, Circana's vice president for the confection vertical, said: "Gummy continues to be a growth driver, outpacing the category." Ginny Grant, Haribo's director of sales for c-stores, called the segment "one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing subcategories in candy." She said Gen Z and millennials drive experimentation and growth.

Gummy growth is drawing investment from Haribo, Mars Snacking and wholesaler Nassau Candy, with each launch built around a chewy center or crunchy coating. Sour formats also feature in Balla Bites Sour and the Gummy Fuzions line.

• Haribo recently debuted Balla Bites and Balla Bites Sour. Grant described each rounded, bite-sized piece as a chewy outer layer with a soft center and three fruit flavors in every piece.
• Mars Snacking will launch Skittles Gummy Crystals on Nov. 2. The candy combines gummies with a tangy, crunchy candy-crystal coating. Original variety includes strawberry, lemon, grape, orange and green apple flavors. Tropical Splash includes fruit punch, pink lemonade, mango melon, pineapple and watermelon.
• Nassau Candy is expanding its Clever Candy brand with Fruit Jelly Jewels. The individually wrapped, fruit-flavored candies have soft jelly centers and crunchy sugar coatings. Flavors include orange, lemon, grapefruit, lime, cherry and blueberry.

What texture formats are gaining attention?

Experiential candy, including products that marry different textures, ranks among the hottest trends in confectionery, Sadler said. New launches span both chocolate and nonchocolate candy.

Nik Culver, category management director for c-store at The Hershey Co., said: "Consumers want unique flavors with unexpected textures, fueled in part by a social-first culture that celebrates a sense of surprise and discovery." He said younger consumers are drawn to products offering more differentiated eating experiences.

Younger shoppers appear to be the pivotal audience, pulling texture-driven confectionery into a social-first culture built around surprise and discovery. Grant confirmed the texture boom: "People love the chew, the bounce, and the mix of soft, firm, and layered gummies."

• Stuffed Puffs, which largely makes stuffed marshmallows, has moved the stuffed format into gummies with Gummy Fuzions. Each bite-sized candy has a sour outer coating, a soft gummy inside and a sour center. Varieties include sour watermelon, sour berry, fruity punch, mixed berry and chili mango.
• Reese's Pieces with Chocolate Cookie, which launched earlier this year, combines creamy peanut butter, a crispy chocolate cookie center and the brand's signature candy shell. Culver called the combination "a bold, poppable snack with layers of flavor and texture in every bite."
• Mondelēz International and Lotus Bakeries launched Toblerone Diamond Truffles with Biscoff last month. The diamond-shaped truffles use Toblerone milk chocolate shells, Biscoff spread fillings and crunchy honey-almond nougat pieces.

What is driving Swedish candy's U.S. growth?

Swedish candy is booming in the U.S. thanks to "additive-free ingredients, unique dual-flavor combinations, and distinctive pillowy textures that stand apart from traditional candies," Sadler said.

In just one year, the Bubs brand amassed over $60 million in sales, Sadler said. He said strong appeal among Gen Alpha, Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X consumers drove that growth.

The reach now spans big-box and grocery stores, It’s Sugar's own mix and BonBon's planned expansion to more than 1,900 Target stores.

• Bubs candies are sold in big-box and grocery stores. It’s Sugar sells its own mix of Swedish candies, showing the trend's broader reach.
• BonBon - A Swedish Candy Co. is expanding its varieties to more than 1,900 Target stores. The range includes sour blackberry fish, chocolate mix, sour and sweet gluten-free mix, and salty licorice twists.

Circana's 0.2% c-store decline makes the Nov. 2 Skittles launch a practical test for gummy innovation.