Focus On Sugar Confectionery: 4 July

By Alice Leader (alice.leader@thegrocer.co.uk) 

Advertising deadline: 19 June 2026

Submissions deadline: 12 June 2026

Print, digital and sponsorship opportunities

Increasingly, confectionery is being aligned with wellbeing. From gums with functional benefits to sweets with “natural” and “plant-based” claims, suppliers are innovating and marketing their products to lure health-conscious consumers and meet tightening HFSS rules.

Advertising ban: Category impact

• How have sweets brands been impacted by the online ad ban on LHFs?

• Which channels have they diverted their marketing spend to and why?

• How important a role is retail media playing in the category?

• Are any brands advertising on TV post-watershed?

HFSS-compliant sweets: Suppliers innovate to dodge HFSS legislation

• Which HFSS compliant products have launched in the past 12 months?

• How are they marketing themselves to lure health-conscious consumers?

• Which on-pack claims are resonating?

Chewing gum: Wellbeing benefits

• How are established brands repositioning themselves to align with wellbeing benefits?

• Which new launches come with functional benefits?

• Are these claims landing with shoppers?

Halal sweets: Gelatine-free innovation

• Which brands are marketing themselves as halal?

• Why is this a major growth opportunity?

• Is halal messaging understood by non-Muslim consumers?

Nostalgia: Classic flavours reimagined

• How are suppliers cashing in on shoppers’ love of nostalgia?

• Which have been the standout pieces of innovation?

• Is health a consideration of this trend or is it more about comfort?

Global flavours: Travelling through taste

• How is the category being influenced by trending global cuisines?

• How are retailers responding for shoppers’ demand for Far Eastern treats?

• Which formats and flavours are set to be the next big thing?

Seasonal events: Driving incremental sales

• Which seasonal events offer growth opportunities for confectionery?

• As the price of chocolate soars, how are sugar confectionery brands luring shoppers at Easter and Valentine’s Day?

• What have been the most impactful seasonal innovations?

Freeze-dried candy: Life beyond TikTok

• To what extent has freeze-dried candy shown it has longeveity?

• Which brands have been able to capitalise on the format?

• Have any new iterations hit the market in the past 12 months?

Brand spotlights: We will profile two brands making an impact in the category. Please provide strong hi res images.

Innovations: We will profile eight new products or ranges. We need launch date, rsp, and a hi-res picture of each.