Sweets & Snacks

Moreover, vegan snacks and sweets are lower in trans fats and saturated fats and have less cholesterol, making them perfect for those who have diabetes or are on a low-fat diet.

According to a report by Grand View Research, the market for vegan snacks was estimated to be worth USD 44.02 billion in 2021, and from 2022 to 2030, it is anticipated to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. One of the main factors driving the expansion of the sector is the expanding demand for vegan products around the world due to the health benefits and rising veganism.

Vegan chocolate

In its natural form, chocolate can be vegan, as some manufacturers limit their ingredients to chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla – resulting in “accidentally vegan” dark chocolate bars. However, many established chocolate brands, as well as dedicated vegan chocolate startups, are starting to create plant-based chocolate ranges for the growing market.

The Global Vegan Chocolate Confectionery Market size is expected to reach $1 billion by 2027, rising at a market growth of 12.3% CAGR during the forecast period. The highest amount of vegan chocolate manufacturers can be found in the UK, where innovative chocolate brands such as Love Raw, Moo Free, and Prodigy, provide a wide range of plant-based chocolate alternatives.

More companies include Brazil’s female-led brand Super Vegan, South Africa’s sustainably sourced chocolate brand De Villiers Chocolate, as well as the nu company from Germany.

Vegan sweet bakery products

Vegan sweet baked goods such as cakes and cookies have high growth potential in retail but have to face some challenges regarding consumer acceptance, texture, and taste. A report by European baked goods manufacturer Baker & Baker highlights the growing interest in vegan sweet bakery products, which is mainly driven by flexitarians.

Cakes tend to face additional challenges due to their reliance on eggs to provide volume, resilience, and emulsification viscosity. However, back in 2020, the vegan cake specialist Oggs became the first company to launch an aquafaba egg product for consumers and food service.

Since then, many promising solutions for the vegan sweet bakery market were launched or are in development, including the animal-free egg white solution made through precision fermentation by San Francisco’s The EVERY Co., as well as US-based biotech startup Shiru, developer of a next-generation egg replacement solution for baking.

Vegan gummy and jelly confectionery

Gummy and jelly confectionery is traditionally made from gelatin, which is a protein that comes from animal bones and tissue. Gelatin is used as a thickener in these products, which means that most gummy and jelly products are not vegan-friendly.

Vegan gummy bears are made with plant-based gelatine instead of animal-derived gelatine. They are suitable for vegans and vegetarians or people who avoid animal products for various reasons. There are different types of vegan gummy bears on the market: some use agar-agar as the thickener while others use pectin or corn starch.

With more and more customers questioning the necessity of animal-derived gelatine, the popularity of vegan-friendly alternatives is soaring. The largest plant-based gummies brand in Europe is Katjes, whose vegan line is made of vegan-friendly ingredients, such as agar-agar, carrageenan, and natural flavors. Other producers of vegan gummy confectionary include the sugar-free brand Free From Fellows and the Canadian confectionery brand Yumy Bear.