SUGAR confectionery sales in Britain are worth £1.34bn, and Wrigley products accounted for £19m or roughly half of the category growth achieved last year, the confectionery firm said.
It reckons that two out of three occasions when sugar confectionery is consumed at home involve sharing, and it suggests that means sharing-sized bags of products like Skittles and Starburst offer retailers major sales opportunities.
It also says that sugar confectionery frequently plays a part in computer and console gaming sessions. Skittles has recently teamed up with Xbox in on-pack activity offering Xbox prizes.
Quoting Nielsen research for the year to 9 August, Wrigley says gum sales are now worth £280m and growing by 4.8% year on year.
Wrigley’s own portfolio is said to be worth £260m and growing ahead of the market at 6.6% year on year.
Extra White is said to have delivered most growth in the last year, adding £15.9m to its sales.
Another Wrigley gum brand Airwaves is said to be currently worth £36.3m and to be growing by 45% year on year.
The firm expects the trend towards sugarfree gum to continue.
