ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ

In 2021, the Japanese confectionery company Meiji Holdings was the leading chocolate manufacturer in Japan, with a retail sales value share of *** percent. Following closely in second, the South Korean manufacturer Lotte Group held a **** percent market share within the Japanese chocolate confectionery market. Along with traditional Japanese confectionery (wagashi) and biscuits, chocolate make up an integral part of Japanese confectionery production.

Traditional, filled or flavored?

In 2021, chocolate ranked in third as the most popular dessert among Japanese consumers, surpassing wagashi in popularity. While traditional flavors like dark, milk, and white chocolate make up the staple products in the global market, Japanese manufacturers have found inspiration in the local food culture. Flavors like green tea, strawberry, or pudding have proven to be popular among domestic consumers and overseas visitors.
Whereas traditional sweets play a major role in the domestic production, chocolate dominates the confectionery retail market in Japan.

Confectioneries in Japan

In 2021, the retail sales value of confectionery in Japan continued to stay above trillion Japanese yen. The domestic confectionery market can be broken down into two distinct categories: sweet and savory snacks. Savory snacks include products such as wheat or rice-based crackers and deep-fried confectionery, while sweets encompass a variety of products ranging from sugar-based treats like wagashi to baked goods like cakes.
To accommodate a growing health consciousness among consumers, manufacturers expanded into the functional and health food market, with the sales of confectionery certified as "foods for specified health uses" reaching ** billion Japanese yen in fiscal year 2020.