Market Focus: Trends and Developments in the Confectionery Sector in Japan

Synopsis
This report provides a concise overview of the Confectionery market in Japan. After reading this report, you will understand the size of the market, the economic, demographic, and behavioural trends that will drive its evolution and the leading players within the market, allowing you to plan effectively for the future.
Scope
Analysis of consumer behaviour, economic conditions, and demography reveals emerging opportunities in the Confectionery sector.

Key growth categories are highlighted by analysing the market dynamics of major Confectionery categories.

Market shares are provided for the leading brands and private label across Confectionery categories.

An overview of packaging trends in the Japanese Confectionery sector is provided, including primary packaging material and type, packaging closures, and outer packaging.


Summary
Why was the report written?
This overview of the consumer and market dynamics of the Japanese Confectionery sector allows new entrants and established players to gain rapid and comprehensive insight into the current state of the market and identify the key trends that will drive growth in the coming years.

What is the current market landscape and what is changing?
Chocolate accounts for half of total Confectionery sales in Japan. Seasonal fluctuation of chocolate sales is high. While chocolate companies have focused on improving sales of the existing brands, Gum and Sugar Confectionery categories are driven by new product launches and innovation. Premiumization of chocolate brands and the launch of high-end flagship stores are on the rise.

What are the key drivers behind recent market changes?
The demand for seasonal chocolate consumed on holiday and for gifting during major events such as Valentine’s Day and White Day is significant in Japan. Luxury Chocolate is a fast growing segment in Japan similar to the mature markets in the US and Western European countries. Consumers are choosing to buy a smaller number of expensive but high quality chocolates, whereas the functional benefits of Confectionery products are a growing driver.

What makes this report unique and essential to read?
This report brings together consumer insight and market data to provide a comprehensive brief of the Japanese Confectionery sector. This allows for the rapid identification of key growth opportunities across major Confectionery categories and their packaging.
Reasons To Buy
Weak economic growth and squeezed disposable incomes makes Japan’s Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) market one of the lowest growth markets in the region. In addition, the country’s aging population has contributed to a stagnant confectionery market. Japan’s elderly population above the age of 65 accounted for 24% of the population while children aged 14 and under accounted for only 13%. Health related food restriction has impeded higher growth in the confectionery market.

The importance of the Others channel shows that Chocolate manufacturers are using a wide variety of distribution methods, such as through Department Stores, Drug Stores, and Vending machines, in order to target different consumer groups and consumption occasions.

The demand for Chocolate will grow at a higher rate between 2012 and 2017 in local currency terms, with annual growth rate of more than 2%, helped by seasonal sales and important sales days such as Valentine’s Day and White Day.

Rising production costs implies optimizing price versus size. Japanese consumers prefer low-priced individually packed confectionery products. This makes the trade-off between price and size even more important.

Private labels across Japan’s Confectionery sector grew at a faster rate during 2009-2012 than their categories as a whole, showing that Private labels are gaining market share in Japan. However, high growth in Private labels is unlikely to challenge major brands because of their low penetration.