When you have specific dietary requirements, finding sweets that fit with them can sometimes feel like a challenge. But whether that’s for health or ethical reasons, there are many more options than many people are aware of.
From childhood favourites to new names and health-conscious options, there are brilliant treats that are suitable for all dietary needs. Here at Hancocks, we have developed a grand range of vegan and vegetarian sweets that will tantalise taste buds and put a smile on your customers’ faces.
Vegetarianism and veganism have both grown in popularity, and more people than ever are seeking out suitable options – even if they don’t follow a strict diet. A YouGov survey showed a population of flexitarians – people who mostly eat vegetarian food, but not exclusively. So, it makes perfect sense to have stock on your shelves that works for all of your customers’ needs!
Here at Hancocks, we have plenty of products that will help you offer an exciting range of treats that cater to all dietary requirements. So whether you simply want to add more variety to your range, or you want to provide a whole dietary-specific section, you’ll be able to find brilliant options that are sure to go down a treat.
Vegan food in general is rapidly growing in popularity. In 2019, a quarter of all new food products were vegan, and the number of vegan restaurants on Deliveroo doubled in 2021, proving that people are looking for vegan options when it comes to treating themselves!
Creating a dedicated section for vegan sweets can really help capture the attention of a wider audience. By expanding your stock with these products, you can gain a competitive advantage and grow your business. So whether every customer buys them or not, stocking them will show that you have your finger on the pulse.
Our wholesale selection of vegan sweets features an exciting variety that ranges from novelty lines to seasonal sweets and, of course, loads of great pick and mix sweets!
Kingsway’s extensive range of vegan favourites include Fizzy Cola Bottles, Tongue Painters and Sour Dummies among many more lines that customers will love. There are also sweetshop favourites like Candy Necklaces and Flying Saucers that are free-from and totally delicious. BUBS have a brilliant selection of vegan lines too. With their eye-catching designs and fun flavour combinations, the vegan treats are able to brighten up any pick n mix stand.
There are also a wide range of iconic sweets that are vegan. Plenty of customers will be excited to learn that Swizzels’ famous range of chew bars is vegan. From all flavours of Refreshers Chew Bars to Drumsticks and even Vimto Chew Bars, the chewy favourites are popular with children and grownups alike! Plenty of Rowntree’s favourites are safe stock, too, as are jars and tubes of Millions. With so many desirable lines suitable treats for vegans and vegetarians alike, it is well worth continuing to stock these favourites – even if you have to highlight their suitability!
As the vegan movement has gained momentum and awareness, it’s no surprise that there are brilliant brands dedicated purely to creating the best vegan sweets they can. Among them, most types of treats are available. Candy Kittens' range of chewy and gummy bags, Creative Nature’s chocolate-coated crunchy bites and Retrocorn’s candy-coated popcorn all show just how exciting the market is for vegan confectionery.
There are plenty of vegan chocolates that shoppers will love, too. There are newer brands dedicated to creating delicious free-from chocolate, with Moo Free and Dirty Cow both providing indulgent free-from bars. But established brands are also offering alternatives, with the KitKat 4 Finger Vegan Chocolate Bars a particularly hot commodity.
In some ways, it’s easier to stock vegetarian sweets than it may seem. First off, any vegan sweets are also vegetarian. In great news for chocoholics, most chocolate is vegetarian, too.
With chocolate, there are so many bars, truffles and biscuits that are suitable for vegetarians. This is because, unlike chewy sweets, do not need gelatine. So, the most popular chocolate from the biggest brands is often vegetarian. But as there are exceptions, it is still important to check!
It's a little less straightforward with sweets and candy. You may well find that not as many sweets are labelled as vegetarian, but if they are vegan-certified, then they have the green light. From retro sweets to creamy fudge, you will be able to find a large selection of confectionery that is not just suitable for vegetarians but will be a hit with all shoppers.
Younger shoppers will be glad that lots of novelty items are veggie-friendly. From Kinder Surprise Eggs to Fizz Wiz Popping Candy, there’s a wide range of vegetarian crowd-pleasers. Several Oreo products are suitable, as well as Haribo lines including Giant Strawbs, Freaky Fish and Rotella.
So, whether you mark items out on shelf, or put together a dedicated section, there’s no shortage of dietary-conscious confectionery. In truth, the choices we’ve mentioned here are only the tip of the iceberg!
Catering to these growing markets is a great opportunity to boost sales, with large numbers of shoppers on the hunt for tasty, free-from treats. Whether online or in your local cash and carry, you’ll be able to find the stock you need here at Hancocks – including wholesale halal, gluten-free and dairy-free confectionery. If you are unsure about the suitability of any products, simply get in touch with the Hancocks team and we’ll be happy to help.
