Sweet 60 2023: The top candy companies in North America
Sweet 60 2023: The top candy companies in North America
Each year, Candy Industry compiles a list of the top candy companies in the world. The Sweet 60 features the top 60 candy companies in North America as a subset of the Global Top 100 Candy Companies list. Below, you’ll not only find out where each candy company ranks, but also their estimated net sales, how many employees they have and which products they make.
1
Mars Wrigley, div. of Mars Inc.
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered cookies/wafers, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, nut candies, nougat, hard candies/mints, chewy candies, jelly beans, gum, energy/snack bars
Headquarters
Chicago, IL
Confectionery
Sale (Bil.)
$45
Chief Officer
Poul Weihrauch,
CEO & President
Employees
130,000
Plants
Over 413
2
Mondelez International
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered cookies/wafers, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, nougat, hard candies, chewy/gummy candies, licorice, chocolate drinks, gum, sugar-reduced candies, snack bars
Headquarters
Chicago, IL
Confectionery
Sale (Bil.)
$31.5
Chief Officer
Dirk Van de Put,
CEO
Employees
91,000
Plants
133
3
Kellogg Co.
Products
Cereal/snack/protein bars
Headquarters
Battle Creek, Mich.
Confectionery
Sale (Bil.)
$15.315
Chief Officer
Steven Cahillane,
chairman & CEO
Employees
30,000
Plants
26
4
The Hershey Company
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered cookies/pretzels, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, toffee, nut candies/barks, hard candies/lollipops/mints, licorice, gummy/jelly/chewy candies, licorice, jelly beans, syrups, cocoa powder, gum, sugar-reduced candies, snack bars
Headquarters
Hershey, PA
Confectionery
Sale (Bil.)
$8.971
Chief Officer
Michele Buck, Chairwoman,
President & CEO
Employees
19,000
Plants
15
5
Ferrero North America & Ferrara,
both divisions of Ferrero Group
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered cookies/pretzels, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, hard candies/mints/lollipops, chewy/gummy/jelly candies, fruit snacks, interactive/novelty candies, spreads, gum, sugar-reduced candies, snack bars
Headquarters
Ferrero N. America, Parsippany, N.J. Ferrara, Chicago, IL
Confectionery
Sale (Bil.)
$4.292
Chief Officer
Ferrero N. America, Todd Siwak, president & CBO;
Ferrara, Marco Capurso, CEO
Employees
15,500 (Ferrero N. Amer., 9,500; Ferrara, 6,000)
Plants
14 (Ferrero N. Amer., 4; Ferrara, 10)
6
Lindt & Sprungli (North America) Inc.,
[Ghirardelli, Russell Stover Chocolates, Lindt & Sprungli (USA)]
Products
Chocolate bars, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, toffee, nut candies/bark/bars, hard candies, chewy candies, marshmallow, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Lindt & Sprungli (North America) Inc., [Ghirardelli, San Leandro, Calif., Russell Stover, Kansas City, Mo., Lindt & Sprungli (USA), Stratham, N.H.]
Confectionery
Sale (Bil.)
$2.359
Chief Officer
Dr. Adalbert Lechner, group CEO
Employees
14,600
Plants
18
7
General Mills
Products
Fruit snacks, fruit roll-ups, cereal/protein bars
Headquarters
Minneapolis, Minn
Confectionery
Sale (Bil.)
$2
Chief Officer
Jeffrey Harmening, chairman & CEO
Employees
35,000
Plants
47
8
Simply Good Foods Co.
Products
Chocolate-covered cookies, filled chocolates, caramel, nut candies, chocolate powders/shakes, sugar-reduced candies, protein/energy bars
Headquarters
Denver, Colo.
Confectionery
Sale (Bil.)
$1.17
Chief Officer
Geoff E. Tanner,
president & CEO
Employees
260
Plants
n/a
9
1-800-FLOWERS.COM INC.
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered cookies, pretzels, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, toffee, nut candies, nougat, marzipan, hard candies, lollipops, gummy/chewy/jelly candies, licorice, jelly beans, fudge, marshmallow, interactive/novelty candies, yogurt-covered candies, chocolate popcorn, gum, sugar-reduced candies, cereal bars
Headquarters
Carle Place, N.Y.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$810
Chief Officer
Chris McCann, CEO
Employees
3,300 yearly;
10,000 seasonally
Plants
4
10
PIM Brands Inc.
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered biscuits/wafers/cookies, panned chocolates, hard candies, fruit snacks/roll-ups, gummy/jelly candies, yogurt candies, sugar-reduced candies, fruit bars, snack/nutrition bars
Headquarters
Park Ridge, N.J.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$750
Chief Officer
Michael Rosenberg,
president & CEO
Employees
649
Plants
4
11
Tootsie Roll Industries
Products
Chocolate mints, filled chocolates, hard candies/lollipops, gum drops, interactive/novelty candies, gum
Headquarters
Chicago, Ill.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$681
Chief Officer
Ellen Gordon,
CEO & chairwoman
Employees
2,200
Plants
7
12
Hearthside Food Solutions
Products
Chocolate bars, cereal bars
Headquarters
Downers Grove, Ill.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$661
Chief Officer
Chuck Metzger, CEO;
Richard Scalise, chairman
Employees
2,680
Plants
14
13
Sunrise Confections, division of Mount Franklin Foods
Products
Nut candies/brittles/snacks, hard candy/mints, gummy/jelly/chewy candies, licorice, jelly beans, fruit snacks, marshmallow, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
El Paso, Texas
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$588
Chief Officer
Enrique Grajeda,
president & CEO
Employees
4000
Plants
6
14
Productos Ricolino, S.A.P.I. de C.V., division of Grupo Bimbo
Products
Candy bars, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, toffees, nut candies, marzipan, nougat, hard candies/lollipops, chewy/gummy candies/jelly beans, novelty/interactive candies, marshmallows, gum, sugar-reduced candies, snack bars
Headquarters
Mexico City, Mexico
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$500
Chief Officer
Fernando Lerdo de Tejada
Servitje, president
Employees
5,764
Plants
6
15
Canel's SA de CV
Products
Caramels, gummy/jelly candies, jelly beans, hard candies/lollipops, gum, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$450
Chief Officer
Roberto Garcia Corripio,
President
Employees
2,700
Plants
4
16
PepsiCo
Products
Chocolate-covered cookies, chocolate-flavored drinks, snack/cereal bars
Headquarters
Purchase, N.Y.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$450
Chief Officer
Ramon Laguarta,
chairman & CEO
Employees
250,000
Plants
n/a
17
Dulces De La Rosa
Products
Chocolate bars, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, toffee, marzipan, nougat, hard candies/lollipops, gummy/jelly/chewy candies, marshmallow, gum, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$429
Chief Officer
Miguel Angel Michel Velasco,
president
Employees
3,180
Plants
3
18
See's Candies
Products
Filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, toffee, nut candies/brittles, marzipan, nougat, hard candies, lollipops, gummy/jelly/chewy candies, licorice, jelly beans, fudge, marshmallow, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
S. San Francisco, Calif.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$410
Chief Officer
Pat Egan,
president & CEO
Employees
2,500
Plants
2
19
Just Born Quality Confections
Products
Chocolate bars, chewy candies, jelly beans, marshmallow
Headquarters
Bethlehem, Pa.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$301.6
Chief Officer
David Shaffer,
Gardner "Chip" Jett, co-CEOs
Employees
600+
Plants
2
20
Bazooka Candy Brands, division of The Bazooka Companies Inc.
Products
Moulded chocolates, lollipops/hard candies, chewy/gummy candies, interactive/novelty candies, gum, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
New York, New York
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$297
Chief Officer
Tony Jacobs,
president of Bazooka Candy Brands
Employees
200
Plants
1
21
R.M. Palmer Candy Co.
Products
Chocolate bars, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, caramel, nut candies, jelly beans, interactive/novelty candies
Headquarters
West Reading, Pa.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$257.5
Chief Officer
Mark Schlott, EVP Operations
and COO
Employees
850
Plants
3
22
Spangler Candy Co.
Products
Candy canes/lollipops, toffee, hard candies, chewy candies, marshmallows
Headquarters
Bryan, Ohio
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$200
Chief Officer
Kirkland Vashaw,
chairman & CEO
Employees
475
Plants
1
23
World's Finest Chocolate
Products
Chocolate bars, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, nut candies, cocoa, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Chicago, Ill.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$199
Chief Officer
Eddie Opler,
chairman & CEO
Employees
200
Plants
1
24
Second Nature Brands
Products
Chocolate bars, filled chocolates, caramel, nut/seed candies, chewy/gummy candies, dessert toppings, yogurt-covered candies
Headquarters
Madison Heights, Mich.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$188
Chief Officer
Victor Mehren,
CEO
Employees
400
Plants
2
25
R.C. Purdy Chocolates Ltd.
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered pretzels, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, caramel, toffee, nut candies/bars/bark/brittles, ice cream toppings, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Vancouver, British Columbia
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$185.4
Chief Officer
Karen Flavelle, CEO;
Lawrence Eade, president
Employees
438
Plants
1
26
Frankford Candy LLC
Products
Chocolate bars, moulded chocolates, chewy/gummy candies, jelly beans, marshmallow, interactive/novelty candies
Headquarters
Philadelphia, Pa.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$180
Chief Officer
Stuart Selarnick, CEO
Employees
200
Plants
1
27
Georgia Nut Co.
Products
Chocolate-covered pretzels, pralines, panned chocolates, caramel, toffee, nut/seed candies, yogurt-covered candies, sugar-reduced candies, energy/functional confections
Headquarters
Skokie, Ill.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$155
Chief Officer
Rick Drehobl, CEO
Employees
600
Plants
3
28
BBX Sweet Holdings, subsidiary of BBX Capital Inc.
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered cookies, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, toffee, caramel, nut candies, hard candies, lollipops, gummy candies, marshmallow, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$152
Chief Officer
Jarett Levan,
president & CEO of BBX Capital
Employees
1,000
Plants
2
29
American Licorice Co.
Products
Hard candies/lollipops, licorice, fruit chews, interactive/novelty candies, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
La Porte, Ind.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$150
Chief Officer
John Kretchmer,
CEO
Employees
500
Plants
2
30
Sconza Chocolates
Products
Panned chocolates, chocolate drops/candy buttons, caramel, nut candies, yogurt candies, gummy candies, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Oakdale, Calif.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$128
Chief Officer
Ron Sconza,
president & CEO
Employees
200
Plants
1
31
Elmer Chocolate
Products
Filled chocolates, caramel, toffee, nut candies, nougat, marshmallow, ice cream toppings
Headquarters
Ponchatoula, La.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$125
Chief Officer
Rob Nelson,
CEO
Employees
450
Plants
1
32
Hawaiian Host Group
Products
Pralines/filled chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, nut/seed candies
Headquarters
Honolulu, Hawaii
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$120
Chief Officer
Edward Schultz,
president & CEO
Employees
400
Plants
2
33
Kenny's Candy & Confections, div. of KLN Family Brands
Products
Chocolate-covered pretzels, gummy candies, fruit snacks, licorice, caramel popcorn, chocolate-drizzled popcorn, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Perham, Minn.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$116
Chief Officer
Charlie Nelson,
president & CEO
Employees
367
Plants
2
34
Gertrude Hawk Chocolates Inc.
Products
Chocolate bars, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, caramel, toffee, nut candies/brittles, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Dunmore, Pa.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$107
Chief Officer
David Hambright,
president
Employees
225
Plants
1
35
Hammond's Candies
Products
Chocolate-covered cookies, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, hard candies/lollipops, gummy candies, licorice, nut candies/bars/brittle, marzipan, nougat, interactive, marshmallow, fudge, chocolate powder/cocoa, yogurt-covered candies, gum, sugar-reduced candies, snack bars
Headquarters
Denver, CO
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$102
Chief Officer
Andrew Schuman,
president & CEO
Employees
150
Plants
1
36
Laura Secord
Products
Chocolate bars, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, toffee, caramel, nut candies, lollipops, chewy candies, baking chocolate, sugar-reduced candies, snack bars
Headquarters
Missisauga, Ontario
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$98
Chief Officer
Jean Leclerc,
president & CEO
Employees
400
Plants
1
37
Astor Chocolate
Products
Chocolate-covered cookies/pretzels, truffles, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, nut candies
Headquarters
Lakewood, N.J.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$80
Chief Officer
David Grunhut,
president
Employees
150
Plants
2
38
Palmer Candy Co.
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered pretzels, filled chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, nut candies/brittles, hard candies/lollipops, gummy candies, yogurt-covered candies
Headquarters
Sioux City, Iowa
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$80
Chief Officer
Marty Palmer,
president
Employees
250
Plants
2
39
Richardson Brands Co.
Products
Panned chocolates, hard candies, lollipops, gum
Headquarters
Canajoharie, NY
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$77
Chief Officer
Kobi Afek,
president
Employees
165
Plants
1
40
Zachary Confections Inc.
Products
Chocolate-covered pretzels, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, nut candies, jelly candies, marshmallow, yogurt-covered candies
Headquarters
Frankfort, Ind.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$76.5
Chief Officer
Jack Zachary,
president
Employees
150
Plants
1
41
Albanese Confectionery Group Inc.
Products
Chocolate-covered pretzels, panned chocolates, caramel, toffee, nut/seed candies, gummy candies, yogurt-covered candies, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Merrillville, Ind.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$68
Chief Officer
Scott Albanese,
president
Employees
300
Plants
1
42
Impact Confections
Products
Hard candies/lollipops, chewy/gummy candies, marshmallow, novelty/interactive candies
Headquarters
Janesville, Wisc.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$65
Chief Officer
Paul Henderson,
growth leader
Employees
200
Plants
n/a
43
Sarris Candies Inc.
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered cookies/pretzels, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, toffee, caramel, nut candies/bars/bark, nougat, brittle, marshmallow, chocolate powder/cocoa, sugar-reduced candies, cereal/snack bars
Headquarters
Canonsburg, Pa.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$56
Chief Officer
Bill Sarris,
president & CEO
Employees
450
Plants
3
44
The Warrell Corp.
Products
Chocolate-covered pretzels/potato chips/cookies, panned chocolates, nut candies/brittles, yogurt-covered candies, sugar-reduced candies, energy bars
Headquarters
Camp Hill, Pa.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$55
Chief Officer
Patricia Zwergel,
president & CEO
Employees
150
Plants
1
45
Chocolove
Products
Chocolate bars, filled chocolates, caramel, toffee, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Boulder, Colo.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$54
Chief Officer
Timothy Moley,
founder
Employees
72
Plants
1
46
Ford Gum & Machine Co.
Products
Lollipops, gummy/jelly candies, interactive/novelty, gum, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Akron, N.Y.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$52
Chief Officer
George Stege,
president
Employees
100
Plants
1
47
Arway Confections/Long Grove Confectionery
Products
Chocolate-covered cookies/pretzels, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, toffee, nut candies/brittles, yogurt-covered candies, sponge, sugar-reduced candies, energy/snack bars
Headquarters
Chicago, Ill.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$42
Chief Officer
Craig Leva,
president
Employees
100
Plants
1
48
Asher's Chocolates Co.
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered cookies/pretzels/potato chips, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, toffee, caramel, nut candies, marshmallow, fudge, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Souderton, PA
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$42
Chief Officer
Jeff Asher,
president & CEO
Employees
200
Plants
2
49
Pearson Candy Co., div. of Spell Capital Partners
Products
Nut bars/bark/candies, mint patties
Headquarters
St. Paul, Minn.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$42
Chief Officer
Michael Keller,
CEO
Employees
100
Plants
1
50
Ganong Bros. Ltd.
Products
Chocolate bars, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, caramel, nut candies/bark, nougat, hard candies/lozenges, fruit jellies, marshmallow, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
St. Stephen, New Brunswick
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$35
Chief Officer
Bryana Ganong,
president & CEO
Employees
300
Plants
1
51
Brown & Haley
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered cookies, toffee, caramel, nut candies/brittles, fudge, hot chocolate, cocoa
Headquarters
Tacoma, Wash.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$34
Chief Officer
John Melin, CEO
Employees
200
Plants
1
52
Madelaine Chocolate Co.
Products
Filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates
Headquarters
Rockaway Beach, N.Y.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$33
Chief Officer
Jorge Farber, president & CEO
Employees
224
Plants
1
53
Atkinson Candy Co.
Products
Caramel, nut candies, hard candy/mints, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Lufkin, Texas
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$32
Chief Officer
Eric Atkinson,
president
Employees
100
Plants
2
54
Original Gourmet Food Co.
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered cookies, hard candies/mints/lollipops, chewy/gummy candies, fruit snacks, fudge, novelty/interactive candies, gum
Headquarters
Salem, N.H
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$32
Chief Officer
Richard Alimenti,
CEO
Employees
100
Plants
3
55
Sweet Candy Company
Products
Filled chocolates, nut candies, gummy/chewy candies, jelly beans, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Salt Lake City, Utah
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$32
Chief Officer
Richard Kay,
president & CEO
Employees
100
Plants
1
56
Vosges Haut-Chocolat
Products
Chocolate bars, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, caramel, toffee, nut candies, chewy candies, chocolate-covered jerky, chocolate drinks, marshmallow
Headquarters
Chicago, Il
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$32
Chief Officer
Katrina Markoff,
founder & CEO
Employees
70
Plants
1
57
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Products
Chocolate bars, chocolate-covered pretzels/cookies, filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, panned chocolates, caramel, toffee, nut candies/brittles, lollipops, chewy/jelly/gummy candies, licorice, cocoa, fudge, marshmallow, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
Durango, Colo.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$30
Chief Officer
Rob Sarlls, president,
director & CEO
Employees
217
Plants
1
58
Enstrom Candies Inc.
Products
Filled chocolates, moulded chocolates, toffee, caramel, nut candies/brittles, marshmallow, sugar-reduced candies, nutraceutical/functional gummies
Headquarters
Grand Junction, CO
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$26
Chief Officer
Doug Simons,
president
Employees
130 full time/ 250 peak
Plants
1
59
Doúmak Inc.
Products
Marshmallows
Headquarters
Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$21.8
Chief Officer
Don Muff,
COO & president
Employees
160
Plants
2
60
Adams & Brooks, Inc.
Products
Chocolate bars, nut candies, lollipops, taffy, sugar-reduced candies
Headquarters
San Bernadino, CA
Confectionery
Sale (Mil.)
$19
Chief Officer
John Brooks, Sr.,
president
Employees
200
Plants
3
Note on methodology:
Sales in blue were given in their respective currency and were converted to the U.S. dollar using Google's exchange calculator, which is based on Morningstar for currency.