Sweet groceries at SIAL Paris: a world of delicacies and innovation
SIAL Paris is a not-to-be-missed event for food professionals, offering an exceptional showcase for the sweet goods industry. With its mix of gourmet traditions and bold innovations, this sector is seductive for its diversity and its ability to evolve with current trends
Sweet foods encompass a vast range of products: biscuits, confectionery, chocolates, spreads, honeys, jams, breakfast cereals and much more. After the crisis of 2008, the sector experienced a significant recovery, thanks in particular to sales in Western Europe, North America and Russia. In 2022, the global confectionery market reached sales of €1.5 billion, 29.6% of which was generated in Western Europe, driven by giants such as Ferrero, Haribo, Nestlé and Lindt.
France, renowned for its passion for sweet things, is a key market for sweet groceries. French consumers focus on taste and pleasure, with a marked preference for sweet products. Spreads, such as spreads, honeys and jams, have performed strongly, with honey consumption expected to rise by almost 20% between 2019 and 2020, and the jam market growing by 1.2%. The spreads market has also seen an increase in supermarket sales of over 10% between 2017 and 2020.
Current trends: towards responsible eating
Consumers are paying increasing attention to the composition of the products they eat. This awareness has led manufacturers to offer healthier, natural and transparent products. The trend is towards ‘no’ products: no additives, no colourings, no preservatives. For example, the Belgian company Belkorn has launched biscuits with no additives or added sugar, made with 35% fruit.
Organic and local products are also gaining ground. Brands are adapting their recipes to meet these new expectations, by reducing the sugar content and favouring quality ingredients. Bonne Maman, for example, offers jams with 30% less sugar.
Outstanding innovations at SIAL Paris
SIAL Paris is the scene of major innovations in the sweet goods sector. At the 2022 edition, several products were singled out for their innovative character. Among them, TooGood (France) was rewarded for its sugar-free cotton candy substitute, using chicory fibre as a plant-based alternative, with a Nutriscore A.
In 2024, the trend towards sugar reduction continued, with many products highlighting their low sugar content, responding to a growing demand for healthier eating. Alcohol-free alternatives also gained in popularity, with innovations such as sophisticated mocktails and vintage-quality alcohol-free wines.
At the 2024 edition of SIAL Innovation, several creations were singled out for their originality and their response to current trends. Among them was ‘The Original Hummus Bar’ from Lebanese brand Grapeful, a protein-rich hummus bar with no added sugar, offering a healthy alternative for snack lovers. Another prize-winner was Cœur de Pom‘’s ‘Les Confisades’, a finely sparkling drink with candied fruit extracts, made from co-products of the fruit candying process, without colouring or preservatives, combining taste pleasure with an eco-responsible approach. These innovations illustrate the ability of companies to innovate by offering products that meet consumer expectations in terms of health, convenience and sustainability.
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