Between 2013 and 2017, vegan confectionery product launches more than doubled globally, growing by 140%, according to Mintel.

The market research firm has also revealed that three out of 10 (28%) German consumers would like to see a wider variety of clearly labelled vegetarian and vegan confectionery, with this number rising to 46% of consumers aged 25 to 34.

Given the high consumer interest in vegan sweets, a look at the German confectionery market reveals that consumer demand is already shaping product launch activity.

Germany saw the most vegan confectionery launches globally over the past year, hosting 16% of global vegan confectionery launches in 2017. This is the result of significant new product development growth in the country: vegan new product launches in the sweets category have grown by 252% between 2013 and 2017.

Beyond the vegan trend, it seems that Germans have high expectations for their confectionery in general. According to Mintel, half of German consumers say that there are not enough healthy sweets available, such as confectionery without artificial ingredients or with natural sweeteners. Furthermore, 51% of German consumers say that they would like to see a wider variety of ethical sweets, such as organic or fair trade chocolate.

Mintel research shows that Germans are the most likely among their European neighbours to indulge their sweet tooth: over two-thirds of German consumers (69%) report that they allow themselves the occasional treat. In comparison, only 56% of French consumers and 59% of Spanish consumers allow themselves a sporadic indulgence.

Mintel Food and Drink director of insight Marcia Mogelonsky said: “A shift away from animal products is currently underway, as described by Mintel’s 2017 Global Food & Drink Trend ‘Power to the Plants’. After a boom in other categories, the vegan and vegetarian trend can now be seen in both chocolate and sugar confectionery.

“There has been a growth in non-dairy milk chocolate, while in sugar confectionery there is growing interest in vegetable-based gelatine – the ingredient that provides the chew in chewy-textured candy. Gelatine is traditionally derived from animal collagen, so vegans, vegetarians, kosher and halal consumers are among the consumers seeking non-eat gelatine-based confectionery.

“Growing awareness of the source of certain ingredients, such as gelatine, in confectionery products is making consumers more conscious in their purchase decisions. Germany is an ideal testing ground for vegan confectionery, as German consumers both like to indulge and are looking for ethical and inclusive products.”