Consumers around the world seek out indulgent treats as a special occasion luxury or an everyday snack. From favorites to new taste sensations, overall demand for sweets, and candy-particularly chocolate-translates to overall confectionery industry gains and increased new product launch activity. Confections made with U.S. dairy ingredients can help satisfy consumers' sweet cravings with rich, full flavor that contains nutritional value. Long the global milk production leader, the U.S. dairy industry is well positioned to provide confectionery formulators with the ingredients to develop more indulgent sweets. Dairy ingredients and products from the United States help confection product developers keep on-trend with category innovation. Learn more about U.S. dairy products in the Product Section. 

Trends in Confectionery

Dairy ingredients are a traditional component of confections such as milk chocolate, fudge, caramel, toffee and pralines. The most common ingredients used are nonfat dry milk, dry whole milk, dry buttermilk, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, butter, dry cream, lactose and whey products like sweet whey and permeate.   

Indulgence

The delicious taste and irresistibility of chocolate as a guilty pleasure or premium indulgence is expected to fuel category growth. Consuming chocolate as an affordable everday snack as well as the gifting of luxury chocolates also remain promising growth opportunities for formulators.  

Clean Label

Chocolate can also provide a canvas to showcase ingredients that provide clean labels. A short list of recognizable ingredients acts as a cue to consumers who wish to discern real, fresh and natural food choices from further processed items. Dairy and dairy-based ingredients foster labels that consumers perceive as less processed and additionally provide a source of good nutrition.    

Utilization

Dairy-based ingredients strike the balance needed to meet indulgent taste demands and likewise provide health and wellness benefits. Dairy ingredients also either add flavor or complement existing flavors to enhance or maintain the sweet, savory taste profiles consumers want.  

Dairy ingredients from the United States provide flavor, function and nutrition. The chart below illustrates the benefits six common dairy ingredients offer. 

Access U.S. Dairy Export Council prototype formulations for inspiration on a wide range of indulgent confectionery applications, including chocolate, aerated products, caramel and toffee and compound coatings.