Candy is one of those items that not only tastes good but also gives you a fast energy boost. It is one of the treats that kids of all ages adore. The top ten largest candy companies in the world 2023 dominate the candy production sector. These businesses all have distinctive qualities that set them apart from the competition. There are numerous ways to locate the world’s best-selling sweets brands. Surveys, market share, and merely observing the market are a few of these techniques. The best candy manufacturers also make sure that their flavors are constantly top-notch, even if it means occasionally changing their formula.
10. Ezaki Glico Co. Ltd.
- Net Sales: ~ $3.1 million
- Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
- Founded In: 1922
- Founder: Riichi Ezaki
- Employees: ~ 4,961
- Famous Candy Brands: Pocky, Cream Collon, Pejoy
Japanese food company Ezaki Glico Co. Ltd. has its headquarters in Osaka. The list of the top ten largest candy companies in the world 2023 is completed by Riichi Ezaki. Riichi Ezaki established the business in 1922, and it has since grown to become one of Japan’s top manufacturers of candies and snacks. The product line of Glico includes a variety of candies and snacks, including its well-known Pocky brand as well as other goods like Pretz, Bisco, and Cote d’Or. The business also manufactures nutritional goods including infant formula and dietary supplements.
Glico has a significant global presence in addition to its operations in Japan, with subsidiaries and industrial facilities located throughout Asia, North America, and Europe. The business is dedicated to sustainability and has established goals to lessen its environmental effect, support ethical raw material sourcing, and enhance the welfare of farmers and workers throughout its supply chain. The purpose of Glico’s innovation strategy is to create novel and intriguing goods that cater to shifting market trends and tastes. The business makes significant investments in R&D to produce new flavors, textures, and nutritional characteristics for its goods.
9. Haribo GmbH Co. K.G.
- Net Sales: ~ $3.3 million
- Headquarters: Grafschaft, Germany
- Founded In: 1920
- Founder: Hans Riegel Sr.
- Employees: ~ 7,000
- Famous Candy Brands: MAOAM, Goldbears, Tropifrutti, Happy Cola, Happy Cherries
German candy maker Haribo GmbH & Co. KG is headquartered in Bonn. Hans Riegel established the business in 1920, and it is well-known for its gummy and jelly candies. A vast variety of gummy and jelly candies, including the well-known Goldbears, as well as licorice, marshmallows, and other sweets are all part of the Haribo product line. With production facilities in Europe, North America, and Asia, the corporation has operations in more than 100 nations globally.
Haribo is dedicated to sustainability and has established goals to lessen its impact on the environment, encourage ethical raw material sourcing, and enhance the welfare of farmers and workers in its supply chain. The business also places a strong emphasis on innovation with the aim of developing fresh, exciting items that keep up with shifting consumer trends and preferences. The third generation of the Riegel family is currently in charge of Haribo, which is still a family business. The first two letters of the founders’ first and last names, as well as the name of the company’s original plant in Bonn, are used to create the name of the business.
8. Pladis
- Net Sales: ~ $4.51 million
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Founded In: 2016
- Employees: ~ 17,000
- Famous Candy Brands: Ulker, McVitie’s, Godiva, Jacob’s, and Carr’s
Global snack manufacturer Pladis is based in London, United Kingdom, and is the eighth-largest candy company among the top ten largest candy companies in the world 2023. United Biscuits, Ulker Group, and Godiva Chocolatier, three major food firms, were combined to establish the business in 2016. Many biscuits, chocolate goods, and savory and sweet snacks are all part of Pladis’ product line. McVitie’s, Carr’s, Godiva, Ulker, and Jacob’s are some of the company’s well-known brands. With a significant presence in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, Pladis conducts business in over 120 nations.
Pladis is dedicated to sustainability and has established goals to lessen its impact on the environment, encourage ethical raw material sourcing, and enhance the welfare of farmers and workers in its supply chain. The business also places a strong emphasis on innovation with the aim of developing fresh, exciting items that keep up with shifting consumer trends and preferences. Yildiz Holding, a Turkish conglomerate that also owns well-known brands including Godiva Chocolatier and DeMet’s Candy Company, is the owner of Pladis.
7. Chocoladefabriken Lindt Sprungli AG
- Net Sales: ~ $4.57 million
- Headquarters: Kilchberg, Switzerland
- Founded In: 1845
- Founder: Rodolphe Lindt, David Sprüngli
- Employees: ~ 14,466
- Famous Candy Brands: Lindt HELLO, Lindt EXCELLENCE, Lindt LINDOR
Located in Kilchberg, Switzerland, Chocoladefabriken Lindt Sprüngli AG is a chocolatier and confectionery business. David Sprüngli and Rodolphe Lindt established the business in 1845, and it is well-known for its high-quality chocolate goods. A variety of chocolate products, including chocolate bars, truffles, pralines, and seasonal items like Easter bunnies and Christmas chocolates, are included in Lindt’s product portfolio. The business is renowned for its smooth, creamy chocolate, which is made possible by its distinctive “conching” process.
With subsidiaries and production facilities located throughout Europe, North America, and Asia, Lindt has a significant global footprint in addition to its operations in Switzerland. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the company has established goals to lessen its impact on the environment, encourage ethical cocoa procurement, and enhance the well-being of the farmers and workers in its supply chain. Lindt is dedicated to innovation as well, concentrating on creating novel and distinctive chocolate goods like its Excellence line of chocolate bars with varying cocoa contents and its Lindor line of truffles with a silky, molten filling.
6. Nestle
- Net Sales: ~ $7.92 million
- Headquarters: Vevey, Switzerland
- Founded In: 1866
- Founder: Henri Nestlé
- Employees: ~ 275,000
- Famous Candy Brands: Orion, KitKat, Milkybar, Smarties
One of the biggest food and beverage firms in the world, Henri Nestle began the business in 1866 with its headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland. It comes in at number six among the top ten largest candy companies in the world 2023. A variety of food and beverage goods, such as coffee, bottled water, pet food, baby food, cereals, confections, and ice cream, are included in Nestle’s product portfolio. The most recognizable brands of the corporation are Nescafe, KitKat, Gerber, Purina, and Perrier.
Nestle has activities in more than 190 countries throughout the world in addition to its operations in Switzerland. The business is dedicated to sustainability and has established goals to lower greenhouse gas emissions, utilize more environmentally friendly packaging, and enhance worker welfare throughout its supply chain. Nestle has created initiatives to encourage good eating practices and lifestyles with an emphasis on nutrition, health, and wellness.
5. The Hershey Company
- Net Sales: ~ $7.98 million
- Headquarters: Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Founded In: 1894
- Founder: Milton S. Hershey
- Employees: ~ 16,620
- Famous Candy Brands: Mounds, Hershey’s, Almond Joy, PayDay, Krackel
Based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, The Hershey Corporation is a worldwide American confectionery and food enterprise. Milton Hershey established the business in 1894, and it has since grown to become one of the biggest producers of chocolate worldwide. Hershey is well-known for its recognizable chocolate bars, such as Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Hershey’s Kisses, and Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. Along with other confectionary goods including Twizzlers, Jolly Ranchers, and Ice Breakers, the company also sells baked goods, snacks, and spreads.
Hershey has operations in more than 80 countries, in addition to the United States, giving them a significant global footprint. The business is dedicated to sustainability and has set high goals to lessen its carbon footprint, utilize more environmentally friendly ingredients, and enhance the welfare of cocoa growers and the communities where they live.
4. Meiji Co. Ltd.
- Net Sales: ~ $9.7 million
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Founded In: 1916
- Founder: Hanji Soma
- Famous Candy Brands: Fran, Meiji, XYLISH, Meltykiss
Tokyo, Japan is home to the food and beverage giant Meiji Co. Ltd. Emperor Meiji, who is credited with modernizing Japan during the Meiji period, is honored by the company’s name, which was given to it in 1916. Among the top ten largest candy companies in the world 2023, Meiji comes in at fourth number. Meiji is well-known for its dairy goods, sweets, and medicines. Among the company’s offerings are milk, yogurt, cheese, chocolate, candies, and dietary supplements.
Meiji Milk Chocolate, Meiji Apollo, Meiji Yan Yan, and Meiji Hello Panda are some of its best-known goods. Meiji has a significant global presence in addition to its local business, including affiliates and subsidiaries throughout Asia, North America, and Europe. The business is dedicated to sustainability and has set goals to lessen its carbon impact and incorporate more environmentally friendly components into its goods.
3. Mondelez International
- Net Sales: ~ $11.8 million
- Headquarters: Illinois, United States
- Founded In: 2012
- Founder: Edward E. Rieck, Thomas H. McInerney
- Famous Candy Brands: Prince Polo, Oreo, Cadbury, Milka
Located in Deerfield, Illinois, the United States, Mondelez International is a worldwide confectionery, food, and beverage company. In 2012, Kraft Foods Inc. split off its North American supermarket business to become a separate publicly traded company, retaining the name Mondelez International for the remaining overseas operations. The well-known brands produced by Mondelez International include Cadbury, Oreo, Milka, Toblerone, belVita, Trident, and Halls.
The company has a significant global footprint and operates in more than 80 countries. Its products are sold through a variety of channels, including food service, retail, and online shopping. Mondelez International has prioritized growing its selection of nutritious snacks and enhancing its environmental initiatives in recent years. The business has pledged to reduce its environmental impact and source all of its cocoa, palm oil, and other essential components sustainably by 2025.
2. Ferrero Group
- Net Sales: ~ $13 million
- Headquarters: Piedmont, Italy
- Founded In: 1946
- Founder: Pietro Ferrero
- Employees: ~ 38,000
- Famous Candy Brands: Nutella, Mon Cheri, Kinder, Tic Tac, Raffaello, Ferrero Kusschen
The Ferrero Group is a multinational confectionery conglomerate best known for its Nutella chocolate-hazelnut spread and is second among the top ten largest candy companies in the world 2023. Pietro Ferrero began the business in 1946 in Italy, and the Ferrero family still owns and runs it today. The Ferrero Group manufactures a large variety of well-known confectionary goods in addition to Nutella, including Ferrero Rocher chocolates, Kinder chocolates, Tic Tac mints, and others. The corporation employs more than 38,000 people and operates more than 30 production facilities worldwide.
The Ferrero Group is dedicated to environmentally friendly operations and has set high standards for lowering its environmental effect. The business declared plans to spend over 500 million euros in 2021 on projects that reduce waste and emissions and use sustainable packaging. Overall, the Ferrero Group is a significant player in the world’s confectionary market, and it is renowned for its premium goods and dedication to sustainability.
1. Mars Wrigley Confectionery
- Net Sales: ~ $18 million
- Headquarters: Virginia, USA
- Founded In: 1911
- Founder: Franklin Clarence Mars
- Employees: ~ 34,000
- Famous Candy Brands: Mars, Snickers, Bounty, M&M’s, Milky Way, Twix
With its headquarters in Virginia, USA, Mars Wrigley Confectionery, better known as Mars Incorporated, is a multinational confectionery corporation. The business, which was created in 2016 as a result of the union of Mars, Inc., and Wrigley, is well-known for its well-known sweets brands, which include M&M’s, Snickers, Skittles, and Twix. Around the globe, Mars Wrigley Confectionery employs over 34,000 people and operates in more than 80 countries. The company manufactures pet food, rice, and other food goods in addition to confectionery.
The business is dedicated to sustainability and has established challenging objectives to lessen its influence on the environment, such as lowering greenhouse gas emissions, boosting sustainable agriculture, and cutting waste. As part of its humanitarian efforts, Mars Wrigley Confectionery also supports cocoa growers through the Cocoa Life program and works to encourage healthy living through the Health for Life program. Being a prominent player in the global confectionery market, Mars Wrigley Confectionery is renowned for its iconic brands, dedication to sustainability, and charity endeavors.
In conclusion, these top ten largest candy companies in the world 2023 are renowned for their premium taste and high-quality ingredients. From traditional chocolate bars to elegant truffles and chocolate presents, they provide a wide variety of chocolate items. These companies are regarded as some of the best in the world and have a significant presence in the international market. These brands will satisfy your demands for chocolate whether you’re seeking for a delicious treat to enjoy on your own or a gift for someone special.
