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Confectionery Wholesaling in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Melanie Katz Melanie Katz Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: October 2024 WZ G46.36DE

Revenue

€10.4bn

2024

€10.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

13,166

Businesses

841

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Confectionery Wholesaling in Germany industry analysis

Wholesale sales of sugar, confectionery and baked goods grew by an average of 0.3% per year in the period from 2019 to 2024. This development is primarily due to the increase in raw material and sales prices for sugar, baked goods and confectionery. In addition, increased environmental and health awareness has changed consumer behaviour and led to increased demand for alternative products such as vegan, organic, fair trade or sugar-reduced confectionery and baked goods from retailers, restaurants and food manufacturers. Products of this type can be sold at higher prices, which has a positive impact on wholesale sales. In 2024, industry turnover is expected to fall by 1.8% to 10.4 billion euros.The industry's sales development is influenced by both consumer behaviour and the price development of sugar, confectionery and baked goods, which in turn depend on the prices of key raw materials such as sugar, cocoa and wheat. If raw material prices rise, the manufacturing costs of the products increase, which in turn increases the prices at which wholesalers purchase their goods. If the industry players are unable to pass on the price increases in full to their customers, this can have a negative impact on their profits. The continuous growth in household income has had a positive effect on the industry's turnover in recent years. On the other hand, demand for sugar and confectionery has been negatively impacted by the increasing health awareness of consumers, who are consuming fewer unhealthy foods and beverages as a result. The market continues to be dominated by the top-selling sugar, bakery and confectionery producers, who largely distribute their internationally recognised branded products through their own wholesale division. Smaller industry players are therefore often excluded from the supply chain.Because of the intense competition within the industry and the expected further increase in health awareness, IBISWorld expects turnover to fall by an average of 0.4% per year between 2024 and 2029, meaning that industry turnover is likely to be €10.2 billion in 2029. Like turnover, the number of companies operating in the sector and their businesses is also expected to decrease slightly over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

  • Increasing health awareness is prompting wholesalers to change their product portfolios. In recent years, wholesalers have included more and more low-sugar or sugar-free alternatives in their product ranges.
  • Süßwaren are the industry's top-selling product, closely followed by fresh baked goods. However, the wholesale trade is often bypassed for fresh baked goods, as these are produced directly on site in the bakeries.
  • Wholesalers that sell baked goods prefer to set up in areas with large populations. This is why most wholesalers in the sector are located in the central and southern regions.
  • Competition in the wholesale of sugar, sweets and baked goods is very intense. Small players in particular are competing for customers, while the major players are also market leaders at the production level.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €10.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Strong competition and rising commodity prices are putting pressure on wholesalers' profits

  • The industry's profit margin has fallen slightly in recent years despite the use of more efficient systems and processes.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Confectionery Wholesaling in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Increasing environmental awareness and cost aspects make sustainability an important topic for the future

  • The consideration of sustainability aspects is particularly relevant at the production level, especially with regard to sustainable cultivation methods, ensuring biodiversity in the management of cultivated areas and the resource-saving use of water and fuels during the production process to ensure the lowest possible level of pollutant emissions and waste products.

Biggest companies in the Confectionery Wholesaling in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Ferrero Middle and Eastern Europe GmbH
691.0
Südzucker AG
548.0
August Storck KG
390.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Confectionery Wholesaling in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Confectionery, Fresh baked goods and Long-life baked goods. Confectionery is the largest segment of the Confectionery Wholesaling in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Despite increasing health awareness, confectionery is the product segment with the highest turnover

  • This product group includes chocolate and other products containing cocoa, as well as cocoa-free confectionery such as fruit gums and sweets.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry comprises wholesale activities with sugar, sweets and baked goods. Sweets include cocoa products, sugar confectionery such as caramels and marshmallows, pastilles, candied fruit and nuts, chewing gum and the like. Baked goods include fresh baked goods such as bread and pastries such as cakes as well as long-life baked goods such as biscuits and gingerbread. The sector also includes the wholesale of ice cream and snacks.

What's included in this industry?

ConfectioneryFresh baked goodsLong-life baked goodsSugarIce cream

Companies

Ferrero Middle and Eastern Europe GmbHSüdzucker AGAugust Storck KG

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

ACRYLAMIDCHOCOLATERYISOGLUCOSEMELASSESTEVIA

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 46.36 - Confectionery Wholesaling in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Increasing health awareness is prompting wholesalers to change their product portfolios. In recent years, wholesalers have included more and more low-sugar or sugar-free alte...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Süßwaren are the industry's top-selling product, closely followed by fresh baked goods. However, the wholesale trade is often bypassed for fresh baked goods, as these are pro...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Wholesalers that sell baked goods prefer to set up in areas with large populations. This is why most wholesalers in the sector are located in the central and southern regions...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition in the wholesale of sugar, sweets and baked goods is very intense. Small players in particular are competing for customers, while the major players are also marke...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Ferrero Middle and Eastern Europe GmbH has the highest market share in the wholesale trade of sugar, sweets and baked goods. The central location of the production and logist...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Ferrero Middle and Eastern Europe GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Südzucker AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of August Storck KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Ferrero Middle and Eastern Europe GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Südzucker AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for August Storck KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

EC Regulation 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs obliges companies in the food industry to ensure the safety of their products through a hygiene management system. To this...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The profit margin varies greatly between the individual companies in the sector. Large companies benefit from partial vertical integration as well as economies of scale and s...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Confectionery Wholesaling industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Confectionery Wholesaling industry in Germany is €10.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Confectionery Wholesaling in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 841 businesses in the Confectionery Wholesaling industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Confectionery Wholesaling industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Confectionery Wholesaling industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Confectionery Wholesaling industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Confectionery Wholesaling industry in Germany is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Confectionery Wholesaling market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Confectionery Wholesaling market in Germany are Ferrero Middle and Eastern Europe GmbH, Südzucker AG and August Storck KG

What does the Confectionery Wholesaling in Germany include?

Confectionery and Fresh baked goods are part of the Confectionery Wholesaling industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Confectionery Wholesaling in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Ferrero Middle and Eastern Europe GmbH.

How competitive is the Confectionery Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Confectionery Wholesaling industry in Germany.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.