Top 10 largest candy companies in the world

CachHayNhat - Candy is perhaps mankind's greatest sinful pleasure. Candy isn't exactly known to be the healthiest food, but sometimes you simply can't resist its sweet taste. And as long as you consume it in moderation, there's nothing wrong with snacking occasionally in the midst of a stressful day. After all, eating candy in moderation can reduce stress, increase feelings of happiness, and even reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. Studies have even shown that people who regularly eat candy live longer on average. No wonder the candy industry is a billion dollar industry. The following top 10 largest candy companies are the largest candy manufacturers in the world.

1. MARS
Worldwide candy sales: $18.0 billion
2. FERRERO
Worldwide candy sales: $12.4 billion
3. MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL
Worldwide candy sales: $11.8 billion
4. MEIJI
Worldwide candy sales: $9.7 billion
5. THE HERSHEYCOMPANY
Worldwide candy sales: $7.8 billion
6. NESTLE
Worldwide candy sales: $6.1 billion
7. CHOCOLADEFABRIKEN LINDT & SPRUNGLI
Worldwide candy sales: $4.4 billion
8. EZAKI GLICO
Worldwide candy sales: $3.33 billion
9. HARIBO
Worldwide candy sales: $3.3 billion
10. PERFECT VAN MELLE
Worldwide candy sales: $3.1 billion

10 biggest candy companies in the world

1. Mars

Mars logo

Worldwide candy sales: $18.0 billion

Established year: 1911

Headquarters: McLean, Virginia, USA

Managing Director: Grant Reid

Famous candy brands: Mars, M&M's, Snickers, Bounty, Milky Way, Twix, etc.

Mars is not only the name of a planet, but also the name of the largest candy company in the world. Founded in 1911 by American Franklin Mars in Tacoma, Washington, Mars is still wholly owned by the Mars family. As a result, it is currently the 6th largest privately held company in the United States. Mars is today headquartered in McLean, Virginia. Now it's more than just a candy company with about $35 billion in total revenue in 2018. Almost half of its business now actually comes from pet food products (most notably, pet food products). is through the brand 'Pedigree'). But Mars, through its many brands, sells candy first and foremost. To be more precise, the amount of candy is worth about 18 billion dollars worldwide in 2018. In the list of illustrious brands of Mars belongs to famous global candies such as M&M's, Snickers, Twix, etc. Milky Way, Maltesers, Bounty and of course Mars itself.

2. Ferrero

Ferrero logo

Worldwide candy sales: $12.4 billion

Year of establishment: 1946

Headquarters: Alba, Piedmont, Italy

Managing Director: Giovanni Ferrero

Famous candy brands: Kinder, Raffaello, Mon Cheri, Ferrero Kusschen, Tic Tac, Nutella

The history of Ferrero begins with the Supercrema. A hazelnut-cocoa ice cream is now known and loved globally as Nutella. The company was founded by Italian Pietro Ferrero in 1946 in the small town of Alba, Piedmont, not far from Italy's fourth largest city, Turin. The company is still based in Alba and is still wholly owned by the Ferrero family. But the company has grown into a major global candy brand. Candy products such as Raffaello, Mon Cheri, Ferrero Kusschen and Nutella were mentioned loved and bought all over the world. Through its Kinder brand, Ferrero also sells popular brands such as Kinder Surprise, Kinder Joy or Kinder Bueno. In addition, Ferrero also produces and sells the world famous Tic Tacs, a mint-based candy that freshens breath. All of these brands make up Ferrero's worldwide candy sales of $12.4 billion in 2018.

3. Mondelez International

Mondelez International logo

Worldwide candy sales: $11.8 billion

Established year: 2012

Headquarters: Deerfield, Illinois, USA

Managing Director: Dirk van de Put

Famous candy brands: Oreo, Milka, Cadbury, Prince Polo, etc.

Mondelez International ranks third among the largest candy companies in the world. The company was founded in 2012 after the American food conglomerate 'Kraft Foods' decided to split into two independent and publicly traded companies: Kraft Foods for grocery products and Mondelez International for candy products. and snacks. Mondelez took over all of Kraft's previous candy brands and thus quickly became one of the largest candy manufacturers in the world. The Deerfield, Illinois-based company is known for purchasing popular candy brands from different countries and then integrating them into its corporate structure. Well-known examples include England's Cadbury, Germany's Milka or the Polish Prince's Polo mark. But Mondelez also owns American brands like Oreo, for example. The company sold $11.8 billion of candy globally in 2018.

4. Meiji

Meiji logo

Worldwide candy sales: $9.7 billion

Established year: 2009

Headquarters: Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan

Managing Director: Kazuo Kawamura

Famous candy brands: Meiji, Meltykiss, XYLISH, Fran, etc.

Meiji is a Japanese company established in 2009 following the merger of Meiji Saika and Meiji Dairies. Headquartered in the Japanese capital Tokyo, unified Meiji is now the fourth most popular candy maker in the world. By far, it is also the largest candy producer in Asia. Meiji products are mainly known and popular in Asia and especially Japan. But this alone is enough to make Meiji the fourth largest candy company in the world with global candy sales of $9.7 billion in 2018.

5. The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company logo

Worldwide candy sales: $7.8 billion

Year of establishment: 1894

Headquarters: Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA

Managing Director: Michele Buck

Famous candy brands: Hershey's, Krackel, PayDay, Almond Joy, Mounds, etc.

The world's fifth largest popular candy company is also one of the oldest candy companies still operating in the world. The Hershey Company is named after its founder Milton Hershey. Hershey founded not only a company, but also an entire corporate town where the Hershey Company is still headquartered to this day: Hershey, Pennsylvania. While Hershey's products are not well known outside of North America, the company is the largest and most popular candy manufacturer in the United States. This tradition-rich status and popularity in the United States drove the American company's candy sales to $7.8 billion in 2018.