United Arab Emirates Sugar Confectionery Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

United Arab Emirates Sugar Confectionery Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The United Arab Emirates Sugar Confectionery Market is projected to register a CAGR of 5.69% during the forecast period (2022-2027).

Businesses, including the confectionery industry, have suffered significant losses due to the COVID-19 outbreak and its complicated developments, including volatility in commodity costs, since the beginning of 2020. In the case of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the government imposed a lockdown for around four weeks in the country, post which malls and other retail outlets were allowed to reopen with a maximum capacity of 30%. Furthermore, the import of food and beverage products, including sugar confectionery, witnessed a major disruption given the pandemic. This situation encouraged a shift in focus toward local production.

Consumers in the country shifted their preferences toward essential goods, resulting in an adverse impact on the initially studied chocolate and sugar confectionery segments of the market. For instance, Nestle SA reported slightly negative growth in the confectionery segment in 2020, with a reduced demand for impulse and gifting products. Similarly, Mondelez International reported a decline of around 19.16% in its net revenues generated by its Gum & Candy operating segment in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) region in 2020.

The United Arab Emirates ranks seventh among the top 10 confectionery markets in per capita expenditure (in US Dollar), higher than Saudi Arabia, China, and Malaysia. During the forecast period, the market's growth is primarily attributed to the growing demand for premium confectionery with new and innovative flavors offered in attractive packaging as a gifting item for festivals and other occasions.

Over the past few years, the increased consumption of pastilles in the country may be primarily attributed to the increased consumption of medicinal or throat lozenges, a type of pastille that helps provide temporary relief from coughs and other throat problems. Lozenges also help soothe and lubricate the throat tissues affected by influenza or the common cold. The growing number of consumers who contract bacterial or viral infections in the country has led to the increased consumption of lozenges over the past few years, thereby leading to the growth of this market segment. Additionally, the availability of fruit-flavored pastilles containing ingredients such as Zinc, Vitamin C, and honey has become popular among health-conscious consumers focusing on preventive health care, which has become paramount considering the COVID-19 pandemic. This factor is projected to boost the market's growth during the forecast period.

Despite the growing awareness and concerns about calorie intake among health-conscious consumers, the lure of chocolates and candies has grown stronger in the country over the past few years. This factor has led to the increased consumption of jellies over the study period.

The UAE market witnessed a consistent rise in the consumption of sugar confectionery over the past few years, and the industry is predominantly driven by the consumption of chocolate products in the country. Due to international companies setting up factories in the country to the emergence of local small-scale organizations, there is an awareness of an expanding market and demand for standard and luxury chocolate that serves the gifting purpose and personal/individual consumption. The premium packaging of chocolates opened new avenues for products under the luxury gifting categories. Chocolate producers focus on manufacturing new flavors that cater to changing consumer demands. For instance: In 2020, Nestle launched a limited edition green tea matcha KitKat in selected GCC markets, including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. The product combines white chocolate to provide a sweet and fragrant flavor without artificial color, flavors, or preservatives. Such product launches are not just supporting the consumer’s demand for premium chocolates but are also meeting the ongoing trend of organic/chocolates with no artificial food ingredients.

The UAE sugar confectionery market is fragmented and highly competitive, with major market share held by prominent players, such as August Storck KG, HARIBO GmbH & Co KG, Perfetti Van Melle, Nestle SA, Mondelez International Inc., Mars Inc., Adams and Brooks Candy, Al Seedawi Lebanese & Emirates Factory Co., American Licorice, Ferrero Group. Multinational brands, such as Perfetti Van Melle and Mars Inc., continued to dominate the market in 2021, owing to their robust product offerings via their brands and a strong supply and distribution network in the country. While the key players enjoyed a dominant presence over the study period, local and newer players have been giving competition by focusing on pricing, the quality of products, the innovation of products catering to consumer tastes and preferences, and healthier alternatives to conventional confectionery products.

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