Medicated Confectionery Market is Projected to Register a CAGR of 7.04% during the Forecast Period 2024 to 2032

Market Research Future (MRFR) has published on the “Global Medicated Confectionery market”.

Market Synopsis

According to the MRFR analysis, the global Medicated Confectionery market was valued at USD 5,835.7 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 10,657.2 million by 2032 at a CAGR of 7.04%.

The Global Medicated Confectionery market has witnessed a transformative shift in recent years, driven significantly by Growing diabetic population, and product innovation.

COVID-19 Impact on the Medicated Confectionery Market

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly reshaped the global medicated confectionery market. Covid-19 influenced all industries, including the medicated confectionery sector. Due to COVID-19, early sales statistics for the candy market showed a sharp fall in the gum and mint category, while chocolate, sweets, and non-chocolate confectionery continued to expand strongly. By March 2022, they have regained 100% of the average monthly business in the United States, having already recovered 80% of it. Medicated candy items have been a staple in homes worldwide, even in the face of COVID-19 lockdowns. As more people work from home, there has been a rise in the desire for sweet indulgences. Due to recent advancements in flavor, look, and mouthfeel, candies are seeing rapid expansion in the global markets. Most producers are likewise concentrating on developing products that align with the global trend of organic consumption. The category is expected to grow because of ongoing emphasis on clean-labeled products, stricter government standards and regulations regarding the amount of sugar in products, and the use of organic, vegan, GMO-free, sugar-free, food colors, sweeteners, and other ingredients in the manufacturing process.

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Competitive Landscape

The Medicated Confectionery market is characterized by intense competition among key industry players striving to meet the diverse needs of consumers. The key players operating in the global Medicated Confectionery market comprise Ricola, Mondelez International, Fisherman’s Friend, Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, Lanes Health, Church & Dwight Co, Inc., GU Energy Labs, Now Foods, Procter & Gamble, Meksmar among others.

Segmentation

By Product Type

1. Hard Candies: Medicated hard candies a niche growing segment within the broader confectionery market, combine the enjoyable experience of consuming sweets with therapeutic benefits. These types of candies often contain active ingredients such as menthol, eucalyptus or herbal extracts meant to alleviate sore throats, coughs, irritations, colds, allergies, minor respiratory discomforts, and respiratory tract congestion. They have become popular among people who want convenience and efficacy in managing mild illnesses because these medications can both calm them down and fulfill their craving for sugar. The formulation of medicated hard candies involves the careful balance of flavor and function. Manufacturers ensure that the active ingredients do not overpower the taste while also maintaining the candy's efficacy. Popular flavors often include honey, lemon, and mint, which appeal to the palate and complement the therapeutic agents, enhancing the soothing effect. Other medicines containing active ingredients, such as antacids, vitamins, and herbal extracts, can also be formulated as confectionery products.


2. Soft Confectioneries: Soft medicated confectionery: common examples of such include chewing gum, jellies and gummies, pastilles, and others. Soft medicated confectionery is chewable, or lozenge-like candy infused with drugs. They are meant to be chewed on, sucked up or slowly absorbed by the mouth so that the medicinal components can be taken as they travel through either the digestive tract after ingestion or to the mucous membranes in the mouth. The pectin and gelatin-based gelling agents used in these confections give them a soft texture, and thus they become chewy or semi-solid by nature. These forms of candy perform two roles: they taste good while also delivering medicine to the patient.

By Category

1. Sugar-Based: Sugar-based medicated confectionery refers to sweet, candy-like products that are infused with medicinal ingredients, using sugar as a component to enhance their flavor and appeal. The sugar content masks the often-bitter taste of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and contributes to the texture and shelf stability of the product. Typically, the base of these confections is made by boiling sugar and other ingredients like glucose syrup to create a firm, yet sometimes pliable, candy. This mixture is then blended with medicinal compounds such as vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, or over-the-counter drugs, depending on the intended use. In addition, most sugar confectionery fats are non-lauric in origin. Their brittleness, hardness and flavour are related to their types of fatty acids i.e saturated or unsaturated. Fats are used to improve texture and to lubricate the product to achieve better chewing characteristics.


2. Sugar Free: Sugar-free medicated confectionery refers to candy-like products that deliver medicinal ingredients without the use of traditional sugar. This means they deliver therapeutic benefits from active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and cater to people who are trying to reduce their sugar intake or completely stay away from it. Instead of using sugar, these treats include other types of sweeteners such as sorbitol, xylitol, stevia, and aspartame, among others, which do not have the calories normally associated with sweetness nor influence blood glucose levels. However, when included in the products, these sweeteners taste like sugar and stable throughout the manufacturing process. This ensures final product efficacy and enjoyability by consumers upon consumption. A number of these alternatives can be made in forms like lozenges, gummies, chewables, and pastilles, among others, that dissolve or gradually release their drug content when held in the mouth or chewed slowly.

By Distribution Channel

1. Store-based: Store-based distribution channels for medicated confectionery refer to the traditional way of selling these products through physical shops. This channel includes different kinds of stores, such as supermarkets and hypermarkets, specialty stores, discount stores, etc., where consumers can get medicated confectionery directly. Consumer stores offer a range of therapeutic confectioneries, such as lozenges, gummies, pastilles, and chewables, that are infused with medicinal ingredients and serve as middlemen between manufacturers and end users. The leading distribution channel is chemists/medicated confectionary due to their focus on health and wellness products.


2. Non-store based: A non-store-based distribution channel for medicated confectionery refers to methods of selling these products without relying on physical retail locations. Brand websites, Digital platforms, direct sales, and other innovative approaches instead of physical retail stores are used in such channels. E-commerce, direct-to-consumer (DTC) models, and subscription services have also increased access to and availability of medicated confectionary by subscribing to convenience and personalized shopping trends. Additionally, the major non-store-based distribution channel for medicated confectionary is an e-commerce platform. Amazon.com, specialized health websites or companies’ websites are examples of online retailers where customers can buy various brands of medicated confectioneries from their homes.

By Region

1. 
   

   North AmericaThe market for medicated confectionery has shown an increase, driven by changing consumer preferences and health-conscious trends. In North America, the consumption of sugar confectionery, including medicated varieties, is a mixed bag driven by health trends, regional tastes, and marketing approaches. A person living in the United States consumes around 22 pounds of candy a year, with some portion being contributed to them by sugar confectionaries. The sale of medicated sugar confectionaries reached an estimated USD 1,221.8 million, reflecting the strong presence of these products in the market. This high level of consumption is supported by different factors, such as functional foods gaining popularity, and the realization of other health benefits associated with using medicine candy. For instance, throat-soothing lozenges, energy-boosting gummies, or immunity-enhancing candies are products that give consumers sweet treats while also offering some health solutions.

   
   


2. 
   

   Europe: The European market for medicated confections is a place of rapid growth, fueled by a combination of consumer health consciousness, functional foods, and strategic business expansion. Europe has long been vital to the medicated confectionery market, and the growth in popularity of health-conscious candies reflects wider patterns towards well-being and prevention in healthcare. The major development within this market was the acquisition of Baker Perkins, a well-known participant in the confectionery industry, by Schenck Process Group based in Germany, which happened last year, in 2020. This purchase aimed at increasing Schenck Process Group incomes and making its core business stronger. Through acquiring one of the key players in the confectionery machinery market, it positioned itself to meet surging demand for specialized equipment used in the production of functional and medical confectioneries. It shows that the medicated sweet segment has become an important part of other areas associated with manufacturing candy products in Europe

   
   


3. 
   

   Asia Pacific: The medicated confectionery market is on the rise in the Asia-Pacific region due to some factors that are in line with emerging consumer tastes and preferences for health. In the area, China and Japan are leading this expansion despite a more challenging business environment for consumer goods on a large scale. The growing consciousness of health among people living within Asia-Pacific has been one of the driving forces behind this medicated confectionery market. They are looking for products that they know will deliver medicinal benefits since they have become more aware of natural and herbal ingredients. Herbal-infused confectionaries containing guarana, ginseng extracts, green tea extracts, and other ingredients are particularly favored by customers. These ingredients have stimulating properties and contain antioxidants, which many cultures that emphasize holistic health care practices cherish so much. As such, their need has increased, thereby contributing to the general growth of the medicated confectionary industry.

   
   


4. 
   

   South America: The medicated confectionery market in South America is witnessing growth, which is driven by factors reflecting wider socio-economic and lifestyle changes across the region. This expansion is essentially driven by a burgeoning middle class, evolving urbanization, and an increasing focus on health and convenience. The South American medicated confectionery market has largely been driven by the rise of the middle class. From 2021 to 2024, over five hundred thousand households with at least USD 20,000 annually increased, reaching a total figure of 5.3 million. Consequently, this has led to an increase in disposable income, resulting in more families spending on non-essential products including health-oriented products like medicated confectionery. As more South Americans become more economically developed, they turn their consumer preferences towards goods that offer both wellness benefits and ease of use, leading to a growing demand for medicated confectionery products. Growing incomes and access to information are making people from South America increasingly concerned about their health.

   
   


5. 
   

   The Middle East & Africa: The market size for medicated confectionery in the Middle East and Africa region is growing due to health concerns, cultural preferences, and an increasing appetite for premium and organic products. Such expansion is driven by factors including rising cases of diabetes, increased demand for sugarless substitutes, and a wider appeal for natural and premium sweets. Concerns about public health as well as diabetes are some of the driving forces behind the processing of medication. This has led to a rise in sugar-free alternatives, especially with diabetes on the rise, particularly in the GCC countries. As such, medicinal confections that allow them to enjoy their sweet tooth while managing their wellness are therefore becoming popular among consumers. Sugar-free options aren’t only limited to diabetic customers but also to people who watch their weight; thus, they are vital to healthy feeding habits. The MEA region has distinctive eating habits, which shape consumer choices. Manufacturers within the medicated confectionery industry are progressively investing in taste innovations that can be adapted to meet local demands. For instance, the use of traditional herbs and spices, such as mint, cardamom, and ginger, is becoming more common in these products, aligning with regional flavor profiles.