Category
Lifestyle
Assisted Choices
Trend cluster
Category
Plant
Confection
Candy products that are plant-based are rising in popularity.
4.5
Trend score
Trend
What is the Plant Confection trend?
Plant Confection: Brands that make candy are adopting plant-based ingredients in order to enhance the functions and perceived nutritional value of the products in question. These added ingredients offer benefits that range from mood-enhancement to mouth-cleansing.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the Plant Confection trend
Many health-conscious consumers understand that achieving nutritional goals isn't necessarily about restricting calories, but about the quality of the ingredients in food items. Choosing products they can feel good about indulging in ensures that they remain committed to their goals, while avoiding restrictions that are more difficult to maintain in the long term.
Trend themes
Themes within the Plant Confection trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Plant-Based Confection
Brands are adopting plant-based ingredients to enhance the nutritional value of candies, and consumers are seeking better-for-you indulgences.
02
Cannabis-Infused Confections
Handmade cannabis confections in elegant crystal forms with low THC content are catering to those seeking a controlled and elevated experience.
03
Seed Butter Frozen Desserts
A new wave of products is emerging that puts a spotlight on creamy seed butter as a vegan-friendly alternative to traditional dairy bases in frozen desserts.
Industry implications
What the Plant Confection trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Food and Beverage
Innovations in plant-based and cannabis-infused confections are disrupting traditional candy consumption and creating new markets for indulgences.
For
Dairy and Alternative Milk
Plant-based desserts made with milk alternatives such as sunflower and nut butters are shaking up the dairy industry and creating new opportunities for sustainability and health-consciousness.
For
Cannabis and CBD-infused Products
With the growing acceptance of cannabis and CBD-infused products, the confectionery industry can attract the health and wellness market and cater to consumers who seek controlled, elevated experiences.
Workshop question
Consider a natural element that your brand could incorporate into a product, or its production processes.
Trend signals
Trend signals for Plant Confection
Trend score 4.5 out of 10, from popularity 71%, activity 56%, freshness 9%.
Popularity71%
Activity56%
Freshness9%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Plant Confection trend
4 featured examples from Aug 21, 2018 to Feb 4, 2020CategoryLifestyle
Gem-Shaped Cannabis Confections
Drip Sweets' Makes Candies Inspired by Crystalline Forms
The cannabis edibles industry can explore the potential of incorporating handmade, crystal-inspired confections to cater to the evolving preferences of consumers.
CategoryLifestyle
Better-for-You Plant-Based Candies
SmartSweets Now Makes 'Sour Blast Buddies' and 'Sweet Fish'
SmartSweets' plant-based candies are disrupting the traditional confectionery industry with their low sugar and free-from offerings.
CategoryLifestyle
Dairy-Free Chocolate Medallions
Barry Callebaut's Plant Craft Chocolates are Creamy Yet Dairy-Free
The chocolate industry can explore and innovate in the dairy-free segment to cater to the growing demand for plant-based indulgence.
CategoryLifestyle
Sunflower Butter Frozen Desserts
Ben & Jerry's Newest Non-Dairy Frozen Desserts Have a Unique Base
The rise of plant-based diets and the demand for vegan-friendly food products has created a gap in the frozen dessert market that can be filled by innovative seed butter-based pro…
