RESEARCH has revealed that 28% of German consumers would like to see more variety of clearly labelled vegetarian and vegan confectionery. This number rises to 46% in the 25-34 age group.
The study, by Mintel, was highlighted at ProSweets Cologne 2018. Speaking at the event, Marcia Mogelonsky, director of Insight, Mintel Food and Drink, said, “A shift away from animal products is currently underway, as described by Mintel’s 2017 Global Food & Drink Trend ‘Power to the Plants’.
“After a boom in other categories, the vegan and vegetarian trend can now be seen in both chocolate and sugar confectionery. There has been a growth in non-dairy milk chocolate, while in sugar confectionery there is growing interest in vegetable-based gelatin – the ingredient that provides the ‘chew’ in chewy-textured candy. Gelatin is traditionally derived from animal collagen, so vegans, vegetarians, kosher and halal consumers are among the consumers seeking non-eat gelatin-based confectionery.”
According to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), vegan confectionery product launches more than doubled around the world, growing by 140% in the five years between 2013 and 2017. Vegetarian sweets have increased by 21% over the same period.
