Sales of sweets defy downturn

By Lauren Turner

Saturday 01 October 2011

Britain's sweet tooth is getting sweeter, with sales of confectionery rising by 5 per cent in a year.

A total of 2.9 billion bags, boxes and bars of sweets were bought in the past 12 months, up 120 million on the previous year. Family-sized packs are said to be behind the rise .

The Grocer magazine said "sharing bags" had been launched by many manufacturers. Analyst Matt Willingham said people were "seeing confectionery as a treat to enjoy with other people".

Voices

Get your hands on an original Chapman Brothers artwork

elephant appealThe first 23 lots in our charity auction have now gone. But there are 22 more still up for grabs
Arts & Entertainment
The singer randomly unveiled BEYONCÉ, her fifth studio LP, this morning

Surprise! Beyoncé unleashes secret new album on iTunes

arts + ents
Sport
Australia batsman Steve Smith celebrates after reaching his century

It was too good to be true: Steve Smith puts end to England's domination

sport
News
Megyn Kelly said it's a 'fact' that both Jesus and Santa Claus are white

It's a 'fact' that Jesus and Santa Claus are white, says this Fox presenter

people
VIDEO
Sport
QPR unveil plans for a new 40,000-seat stadium in Old Oak, west London

QPR unveils plans for new 40,000-seat stadium

sport
Life & Style

Nearly two thirds of global web activity 'is thanks to bots'

tech
Life & Style

Instagram takes on Snapchat

tech'Direct' service lets users send photo messages
Arts & Entertainment
Matt Smith stars in 'American Psycho' at the Almeida

Matt Smith regenerates as ripped uber-narcissist in American Psycho

theatre
Arts & Entertainment
Kanye West found himself at the centre of a critical storm over the weekend after he apparently claimed to be “the next Mandela” during a radio interview

Kanye West is as 'misguided as they come'

musicPolice chief rejects rappers' claims that his work is as dangerous as law enforcement or military service
Arts & Entertainment
Jack Whitehall and Gemma Chan attend the British Comedy Awards

Whitehall crowned king of British Comedy Awards

comedy'Fresh Meat' star sees off stiff competition from Alan Carr, David Mitchell, Graham Norton, Lee Mack and Sarah Millican to win top prize
Life & Style
James Bond's excessive drinking put him at 'high risk' of a series of alcohol-related diseases, according to experts

Licence to swill

healthJames Bond's alcohol consumption puts him at 'high risk' of cirrhosis, tremors... and impotence
Arts & Entertainment
As usual, The Beatles 'did it first' with their gig on the roof of Apple HQ on January 30, 1969. Nobody on the ground could see anything and the sound was reportedly a disaster, but this was big, super-cool news at the time.

All You Need Is.... a limited release

music

Beatles rush out 'bootleg' album to defy EU copyright law
Arts & Entertainment

Who dares tell Meryl Streep how to act? Step up George Clooney

film

Harvey Weinstein reveals his secret weapon on-set
Life & Style

Last orders: has the liquid lunch had its day?

life

Now that an oil trader's drinking has got him sacked, will we all have to make do with an afternoon latte?
Life & Style blogs

The top 10 property price rise cities of 2013

Live in a converted church

Facebook and Twitter vs estate agents and TV property experts

Elephant Appeal donate now >

independent images

SPONSORED FEATURES

Five things to do for a fiver in London this December

This Christmas, you can park in one of NCP’s ten most popular London car parks for just £5 for six hours of parking at selected times during weekdays and the weekend.

Prizes & offers Business videos

Enter the latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

NCP Parking Business videos

Business videos from commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

NCP Parking Prizes & offers
Independent Dating
and  

By clicking 'Search' you
are agreeing to our
Terms of Use.

ES Rentals

    iJobs Job Widget
    iJobs Food & Drink

    Travel Consultant

    £21000 - £27000 per annum + Benefits: Corporate Traveller: We're looking for t...

    Travel Consultant - Start January

    £23000 - £27000 per annum + £18K & Uncapped Commission & Benefits: Flight Cent...

    Business Development Manager

    £30000 - £35000 per annum: Flight Centre Limited: Exceptional opportunity for ...

    Round The World Travel Consultant

    £23000 - £27000 per annum + Award-Winning Benefits: Round The World Experts: L...

    View the latest Catering, Travel and Hospitality jobs on iJobs.

    Day In a Page

    The death of Nelson Mandela has exposed the failings of his successors

    The death of Nelson Mandela has exposed the failings of his successors

    John Carlin, author of ‘Invictus’, reflects on a momentous week that has shown South Africa at its best - but also, all too often, at its worst
    It’s not rocket science

    It’s not rocket science

    What advice would David Cameron give to his younger self?
    Licence to swill: James Bond's alcohol consumption puts him at 'high risk' of cirrhosis, liver disease, tremors... and impotence

    Licence to swill

    James Bond's alcohol consumption puts him at 'high risk' of cirrhosis, liver disease, tremors... and impotence
    All You Need Is.... a limited release

    Delight for collectors as Beatles release new album to defy EU copyright law

    The album features 59 previously unissued recordings including outakes
    'An old-fashioned romp, pure cinematic escapism'

    Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug

    For all its use of 3D and digital technology, this is an old-fashioned romp at heart – a piece of pure cinematic escapism
    Who dares tell Meryl Streep how to act? Step up George Clooney

    Who dares tell Meryl Streep how to act?

    Step up George Clooney
    Last orders: has the liquid lunch had its day?

    Last orders: has the liquid lunch had its day?

    To his cost, ex-Glencore trader Andrew Kearns has found being hungover a sackable offence, but the liquid lunch shaped many a day in days gone by
    Black British actors lead Globes nominees

    Golden Globes 2014

    Black British actors Idris Elba and Chiwetel Ejiofor lead nominations
    Chris Froome: 'You have to go beyond rationality'

    Chris Froome: 'You have to go beyond rationality'

    The rider on how he broke through the pain barrier this year to claim Tour de France victory and how it's changed his life – and ruined his shopping trips
    Rafa Benitez: Manchester City missed a golden opportunity to win their group – why no one told Manuel Pellegrini just doesn’t add up

    Rafa Benitez column

    Manchester City missed a golden opportunity to win their group – why no one told Manuel Pellegrini just doesn’t add up
    The death of Nelson Mandela: A last chance to offer last respects for Madiba

    A last chance to offer last respects for Madiba

    They came and waited patiently in their thousands for a momentary glimpse of their hero, Nelson Mandela
    We want women to sit at boardroom tables – but we fetishise motherhood

    Grace Dent

    We want women to sit at boardroom tables – but we also fetishise motherhood
    Church versus state: Scientology faces unholy war after court ruling

    Church versus state: Scientology faces unholy war after court ruling

    The Supreme Court judgment  has profound consequences, meaning it could gain charitable status – and opens the floodgates to claims by other organisations
    Your Money, Money, Money please - Abba ask fans for £195 pledges on crowd-funding website

    Your Money, Money, Money please

    Abba ask fans for £195 pledges on crowd-funding website
    Lost Peter Sellers films found in skip to be screened at festival

    Lost Peter Sellers films found in skip to be screened at festival

    The two thirty minute films have not been seen for 50 years