According to Circana, sales of chocolate and other products declined in 2023. However, sales increased by 7.9% and 13.4%, respectively. Sales of gum and breath fresheners increased by 6.5% and 1.8%, respectively. The graph shows c-store sales for the 52 weeks ending December 31, 2023.

Chocolate

The fourth quarter of 2023 saw ups and downs in unit sales. Of the top 10 UPCs, four saw unit increases and six saw decreases. Snickers (1.86 oz.) had the largest unit growth at 7.4% and dollar growth of 12.2%, according to Circana. The chart shows c-store sales for the 13 weeks ending December 31, 2023.

Without chocolate

Non-chocolate unit volumes were down last year, just below zero, and unit volumes in the segment continued to decline this year, by 3.1%, according to Circana. Novelty candy outperformed non-chocolate subcategories unit volumes, up 32.6%, and was the only candy type to post positive unit volumes for the year. The chart below shows c-store sales for the 52 weeks ending December 31, 2023.

Chewing gum/peppermint

According to Circana, regular gum saw a 19.9% ​​decline in sales in 2023, while sugar-free gum grew 15.6%. The five gum brands with the highest sales in 2023 were all sugar-free. Most sales came from Wrigley’s sugar-free gum, which grew 21.4%. The chart below shows c-store sales for the 52 weeks ending December 31, 2023.