Christy Balita
Research expert covering the Philippines
Confectionery and snacks in the Philippines - statistics & facts
Chocolate bars, chocolate-filled biscuits, potato chips, and corn snacks are only some of the most popular snacks and confectioneries regularly enjoyed by Filipino consumers. Filipinos’ appetite for snacks and confectionery products has been gradually growing in recent periods, as reflected in the market’s estimated revenue. These packaged food items are especially popular among those looking for something to have on-the-go, to eat in-between meals, or just to indulge in to satisfy their cravings. The snacks and confectionery market in the Philippines is characterized by a mix of local and imported products that are usually purchased through offline retail channels such as convenience stores and sari-sari stores located in the neighborhood.
JG Summit Holdings Inc. was the market leader for confectionery and snacks in 2022. The company’s food segment, Universal Robina Corporation (URC), produces popular products under its brand Jack’n Jill. Among the popular products in the confectionery segment are Cloud 9 and Chooey choco, with Chippy, Chiz Curls, Nova, Piattos, and Mang Juan renowned brands in the snacks market. These brands, along with other locally produced snacks, are also slowly gaining popularity outside the Philippines, not only among Filipino immigrants and overseas workers, but also among international consumers.
Filipinos have a sweet tooth
As some Filipino cuisine tends to be a bit sweeter, the market for food items with a higher sugar content doesn’t seem to be fading. In 2022, the retail sales value for confectionery products in the Philippines reached roughly 747 million U.S. dollars, indicating a compound annual growth rate of about 2.1 percent between 2017 and 2022. This value was forecast to surpass one million U.S. dollars in 2027. Across the various segments, chocolate confectionery registered the highest retail sales, accounting for close to half of the market’s retail sales. Among the popular brands are Cloud 9, Goya, Choco Mallows, Curly Topics, and Chocnut. Meanwhile, for sugar confectioneries such as candies and dried fruits, some of the popular ones include White Rabbit, Snowbear, and Bazooka, among others. For sugar confectioneries, most products are imported from countries such as China, Vietnam, and Indonesia.A big appetite for salty snacks
Filipinos have just as much appetite for snack food as they have for confectioneries, particularly savory snacks. In 2023, savory snacks generated the majority of sales in the snack market, with no decline in sight in the next couple of years. Within this segment, salty snacks had the highest retail sales, especially potato chips, followed by savory biscuits.JG Summit Holdings Inc. was the market leader for confectionery and snacks in 2022. The company’s food segment, Universal Robina Corporation (URC), produces popular products under its brand Jack’n Jill. Among the popular products in the confectionery segment are Cloud 9 and Chooey choco, with Chippy, Chiz Curls, Nova, Piattos, and Mang Juan renowned brands in the snacks market. These brands, along with other locally produced snacks, are also slowly gaining popularity outside the Philippines, not only among Filipino immigrants and overseas workers, but also among international consumers.
