“Growing Preference for Plant-Based Sweeteners in Confectionery”
- Consumers are increasingly moving toward natural, plant-derived sweeteners such as stevia, monk fruit, and erythritol due to growing health concerns over artificial ingredients
- Clean-label awareness is driving demand for simpler ingredient lists, pushing manufacturers to switch to recognizable, naturally sourced sweeteners
- The rise in vegan, keto, and diabetic-friendly diets is reinforcing the appeal of plant-based sweetened candies among health-conscious populations
- Innovation in extraction and blending techniques is helping reduce the bitter aftertaste associated with plant-based sweeteners, improving product acceptance
- For instance, Brands such as SmartSweets have seen success in North America with their stevia-sweetened gummy candies, targeting both calorie-conscious and diabetic consumers
