(Yicai Global) Nov. 4 -- Affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese consumers’ sweet consumption habits are changing, with ‘reduced-sugar’ and ‘zero-sugar’ products emerging.

According to a Yicai Global review, the growth points of confectionery companies have changed. Consumers have become more cautious about consuming traditional sweets, instead opting to eat more candy and chocolate in categories such as cold drinks and desserts.

The half-yearly and third-quarterly earnings reports of Chinese firms this year show that Mengniu Dairy, Yili Group and other ice cream businesses have achieved double-digit growth.

Zhang Jiaqi, managing director of Barry Callebaut China, a supplier of chocolate and cocoa raw materials, also said that the traditional chocolate market demand has changed. But ice cream and baking firms still rely on the company because they use a lot of chocolate.

The consumption scenarios of sweets are also quietly undergoing a change in China.

Wan Jinling, vice president of marketing at Mars Wrigley China, told Yicai Global that the consumption of sweets has shifted more from outdoors to home, from social needs to self-enjoyment.

With consumers becoming more aware of health amid the pandemic, many confectionery companies are also catering to the trend of healthy eating and reducing the use of sucrose.

Nestlé’s third quarterly report shows that the performance of the Swiss giant’s candy brand Xu Fuji has rebounded. In this regard, Xu Fuji told Yicai Global that product health innovation was an important factor in the sales growth.

Xu Fuji has launched a series of products with less sugar and oil while increasing the number of nutritionally fortified and functional candy products.

Nielsen Holdings’ data shows that in the first nine months this year, in hypermarkets and supermarkets, Xu Fuji’s market share of bulk candies and chocolate exceeded 30 percent.

Mars Wrigley started a comprehensive layout many years ago, and in 2021 the American firm launched Dove’s new zero-sugar and reduced-sugar products.

Italy’s Ferrero, another chocolate brand, also unveiled Rocher’s high-end dark chocolate collection in September, offering 80 percent dark chocolate to consumers who prefer a higher concentration.

Editors: Shi Yi, Peter Thomas