Buy Wholesale Candy

Know the Sweets Well: Get familiar with all types of candies. What's hot? What's classic? What's innovative? Your inventory should be a mix of all these.

Watch the Trends: Candy trends change. See what are people talking about? What's going viral on social media? Stock those items.

Best-Selling Candies For Retail

As per the recent NCA report:

Chocolate candies were the top sellers in 2022. This category includes milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, pralines, bonbons, and more.
Non-chocolate candies ranked second in sales. This category has gummies, hard candies, chewing gums, caramel candies, lollipops, and jelly candies.

Key Insight: It’s all about understanding customer preferences. While chocolate is the leading choice, its popularity doesn't diminish the demand for a diverse range of non-chocolate options.

So, by offering a mix of both, your store can appeal to a broader customer base.

Before you go ahead and stock up, let’s discuss some more insights.

Popular Types of Candies

Sugar-Free Candies

With more cases of diabetes and obesity reported worldwide, there’s a growing demand for sugar-free candies is rising or those with less sugar.

These candies are made using calorie-free or low-calorie sugar substitutes such as saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, neotame, etc.

The best part? Sugar-free chocolates and non-chocolates are outselling regular sugary candies.

Also, they often have a higher price tag, which means they bring in more money for stores that sell them.

Vegan Candies

Made without gelatin, these vegan candies are low in fat and cholesterol.

They are highly popular among individuals who follow a gluten-free diet or avoid animal-based items.

Also, for American Muslims who strictly avoid certain ingredients for religious reasons, these vegan candies are a preferable choice.

So, buying them in wholesale means meeting the diverse needs of different customers.

Freeze-Dried Candies

If you're looking for a snack that is unique and trendy, think about getting freeze-dried candies in bulk.

They're super popular right now on TikTok with over 50 million views!

Unlike traditional chewy or sticky candies, they're light, puffy, and crunchy, thanks to a special process that takes out all the moisture from them.

So, adding freeze-dried candies of different flavors to your shelves can attract customers who demand novelty. Also, they’re great for those who wear braces or dentures.

Supplement Candies

As per the 2022 consumer survey, 75% of Americans use dietary supplements regularly. That’s a big number!

To reach these customers, manufacturers have introduced Fortified or supplement candies to the market. They’re a delicious alternative to traditional pills and tablets.

Both kids and adults use them to get their vitamins, minerals, or calcium. They come in forms like:

Gummies
Chocolates
Toffees

Amongst these, gummy vitamins are preferred by people aged 18-35.

Beverage-Induced Candies

These candies are a hot pick for their infused beverage content and unique flavor profile.

For example:

Cola gummies
Coffee infused candies
Soda flavor candies

Top Occasions To Stock Candies For

No doubt, candies are a timeless treat but they sell even more during special occasions.

For example, Google Trends shows a consistently high search interest in December over the past 19 years.

This is because of the “Christmas” celebration when people (especially kids) eat a lot of candies and give them as a gift to each other.

Halloween is another peak season for candy sales. In 2023, US consumers spent $3.6 billion on candy which is more than the previous year.

Also, candies are a popular gift option for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and birthdays.

For retail stores and candy suppliers, this means there are so many occasions to go big in sales!

A strategic move is to stock up before these events to meet demand.

Bulk Candy Buying: What to Know

When purchasing wholesale candies for your store, here’s what to keep in mind:

Quality: Choose candies that taste great and are well-made. Also, check their shelf-life.
Wide selection: Consider various types and flavors to cater to different tastes and dietary preferences.
Pack sizes: Get them in different pack sizes. Smaller packs are good for individual treats or impulse buys while big packs are great for sharing or special occasions.
Price: Compare prices from various wholesalers to find a good deal. But remember, the cheapest option isn’t always the best in terms of quality.

And if you're thinking about launching your own candy line but unsure about it, the next section offers insights that can help you decide.

Exclusive Sweets: Start Your Own Candy Line

61% of shoppers seek out new c hocolate, gum, or mint they haven't tried before. Plus, with inflation, many people are switching to lesser-known brands.

That's good news for retailers who want to sell private-labeled candies.

Here's the move: Decide what kind of candy you want to sell, find a candy manufacturer, partner with them, tell them how you want your candies to taste and look, and then put your store’s name on the packaging.

Here's why this is beneficial:

You skip the heavy costs of production but still get to sell a product that's uniquely yours.
You'll have something different and exciting to offer your customers.
You’ll have full control over pricing. This means you can price for higher profit margins.

You can also consider white-labeling which involves selling generic products made by a manufacturer under your own brand name. The difference is, these candies might also be sold by other retailers with their names.