A reference page from The Marketplace Fudge and More
Chocolate & Candy Industry Statistics
Key U.S. confectionery market and shopping figures, collected in one place for writers, researchers, and curious candy people.
Last updated October 14, 2026. All figures below name their original reporting year or forecast period.
What these figures cover
These are U.S. confectionery-category figures, covering chocolate, non-chocolate candy, gum, and mints. Fudge is part of the wider candy world, but it is not reported as a separate national sales category in the source data.
The numbers
U.S. chocolate and candy statistics
$55B
U.S. confectionery sales in 2025
Chocolate, candy, gum, and mints together reached $55 billion in retail sales.
Source: National Confectioners Association, March 9, 202699.8%
of households bought confectionery in 2025
Nearly every U.S. household purchased chocolate, candy, gum, or mints at least once during the year.
Source: National Confectioners Association, March 9, 202663%
of sales came from four major seasons
Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, and the winter holidays accounted for 63% of 2025 confectionery sales.
Source: National Confectioners Association, March 9, 202644%
enjoy treats more than once a week
The 2026 report found that 44% of consumers enjoyed confectionery more than once a week in 2025.
Source: National Confectioners Association, 2026 report$28.4B
in chocolate sales in 2025
Chocolate represented 51.7% of reported U.S. confectionery sales in 2025.
Source: NCA State of Treating 2026, Euromonitor data$22.5B
in non-chocolate candy sales in 2025
Non-chocolate candy represented 40.9% of reported U.S. confectionery sales in 2025.
Source: NCA State of Treating 2026, Euromonitor data$4.1B
in gum sales in 2025
Gum represented 7.4% of reported U.S. confectionery sales in 2025.
Source: NCA State of Treating 2026, Euromonitor data$62.2B
projected U.S. confectionery sales by 2030
The category is projected to add $7.3 billion in sales over five years and reach $62.2 billion across all outlets by 2030.
Source: NCA State of Treating 2026, forecast reported March 9, 202648%
of Gen Z found a new treat through TikTok
Among Gen Z shoppers, 48% said TikTok helped them discover something new in 2025.
Source: National Confectioners Association, 2026 report82%
want holiday-specific treats
Eighty-two percent of consumers said they want holiday-specific confectionery with special packaging, shapes, and flavors.
Source: National Confectioners Association, 2026 reportSources and method
How this page was put together
The figures come from the National Confectioners Association's 2026 State of Treating research and its March 2026 category summary. The research combines shopper findings with retail measurement from Circana and category forecasts from Euromonitor. The shopper survey was conducted in December 2025 with a national sample of 1,585 consumers ages 18 to 75.
- Confectionery Sales Climb to $55 Billion in 2025, National Confectioners Association, March 9, 2026
- State of Treating 2026, National Confectioners Association, 2026
Forecast figures are estimates, not recorded sales. They are identified as projections and should be cited that way.
Citing this page
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Suggested citation: The Marketplace Fudge and More. "Chocolate & Candy Industry Statistics." Updated October 14, 2026. https://themarketplacefudgeandmore.com/fudge-statistics
For a specific number, link directly to its source or use the statistic's linked heading on this page. Each figure has a permanent section anchor.
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