top 10 candy companies in the world
The top 10 candy companies in the world today are dominated by a few huge global players like Mars, Ferrero, and Mondelez, with strong challengers from Europe and Turkey rounding out the list.
Quick Scoop
Here’s a quick snapshot of the biggest candy companies in the world by candy/confectionery sales (not counting their non-candy businesses).
Top 10 Candy Companies (Global)
| Rank | Company | Headquarters | Estimated candy sales | Flagship brands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mars, Inc. | McLean, Virginia, USA | ≈ $22.0 billion in candy sales (2025) | Snickers, M&M’s, Twix, Milky Way, Mars |
| 2 | Ferrero Group | Alba, Italy | ≈ $21.3 billion in candy sales (2025) | Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, Nutella (spread), Tic Tac |
| 3 | Mondelez International | Chicago, USA | ≈ $15.3 billion in candy sales (2025) | Cadbury, Toblerone, Milka, Sour Patch Kids, Oreo |
| 4 | The Hershey Company | Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA | ≈ $11.2 billion in candy sales (2025) | Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kit Kat (U.S. license), Jolly Rancher |
| 5 | Nestlé (confectionery) | Vevey, Switzerland | ≈ $10.4 billion in candy sales (2025, confectionery-focused) | KitKat, Smarties, Aero, Lion, Quality Street |
| 6 | Lindt & Sprüngli | Kilchberg, Switzerland | ≈ $6.8 billion in candy sales (2025) | Lindt, Lindor, Excellence bars, Gold Bunny |
| 7 | Yildiz Holding / pladis | Istanbul, Turkey | ≈ $4.0 billion in candy sales (2025) | Ülker, Godiva, McVitie’s, Turtles |
| 8 | Haribo | Grafschaft, Germany | ≈ $3.3 billion in candy sales (2025) | Goldbears, Happy Cola, MAOAM |
| 9 | Perfetti Van Melle | Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands | ≈ $3.0 billion in candy sales (2025) | Mentos, Chupa Chups, Alpenliebe, Airheads |
| 10 | Storck | Berlin, Germany | ≈ $2.0 billion in candy sales (2025) | Werther’s Original, Merci, Toffifee, Mamba |
How These Rankings Are Trending
- Mars and Ferrero keep trading places at the very top depending on whether you look strictly at candy vs total confectionery/snacks, but Mars generally holds a slim lead in net confectionery sales.
- Mondelez’s strategy is heavily “snacking-first,” so its portfolio mixes chocolate (Cadbury, Milka) with biscuits (Oreo, Ritz) and gums/chewy candy like Sour Patch Kids, which keeps it solidly in the global top three for candy-related revenue.
- Haribo and Perfetti Van Melle punch above their size in brand recognition because they dominate specific niches like gummies (Haribo Goldbears) and mints/lollipops (Mentos, Chupa Chups).
Mini Profiles of the Big Players
Mars, Ferrero, Mondelez
- Mars focuses strongly on chocolate and bite-sized formats, with brands like Snickers, M&M’s, and Twix giving it enormous shelf presence in both supermarkets and convenience stores globally.
- Ferrero has grown through both premium chocolates (Ferrero Rocher, Kinder) and acquisitions of American brands like Butterfinger and Crunch, boosting its North American footprint.
- Mondelez leans into “global snacking leadership,” turning Cadbury, Milka, and Oreo into cross-market powerhouses and backing them with strong marketing in Europe, North America, and emerging markets.
Classic Chocolate Houses & Regional Giants
- Hershey remains the iconic North American chocolate name, with Reese’s consistently ranking among the best-selling candy bars in the U.S. market.
- Lindt & Sprüngli and Nestlé anchor the premium and mainstream chocolate segments in Europe, from Lindor truffles to Nestlé’s KitKat and Smarties.
- Yildiz Holding (through pladis) and Haribo illustrate how regional champions (Turkey and Germany) have turned into influential global candy exporters, especially across Europe and the Middle East.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
