Sweet Biscuit Market Size | Global Report [2033]

Sweet Biscuit Market Overview

The Sweet Biscuit Market size was valued at USD 79758.46 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 104068.03 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 3% from 2025 to 2033.

The global sweet biscuit market reached approximately 20 million tonnes in annual consumption as of 2024, matching 2023 levels and reaffirming steady volume demand. China holds the largest share of this volume with around 3.8 million tonnes consumed, followed by the U.S. at 2.4 million tonnes and India at 1.5 million tonnes, collectively representing nearly 39 percent of worldwide consumption.

Per‑capita intake in the U.S. is especially high, averaging 7.2 kg per consumer annually, compared with 4.3 kg in Japan and 3.9 kg in Russia. Globally, total market value aligned with consumption, amounting to approximately 61.5 billion, again on par with the previous year. Within that, China alone contributed roughly 11.5 billion, the U.S. 10.8 billion, and Japan 7.2 billion, representing a combined 48 percent of global valuation.

Product mix data shows chocolate‑coated biscuits holding a leading market position with around 3 442.3 million in value terms, while dark‑chocolate‑coated variants reached about 4.2 billion by 2023. Annual releases in 2023–2024 included both chocolate‑coated and cream‑filled variants, supporting an innovation‑driven volume increase in mature and emerging economies.

Key Findings

DRIVER: Rising demand for on‑the‑go packaged indulgent snacks, led by convenience and premium formats.

COUNTRY/REGION: China, with the highest volume at 3.8 million tonnes in 2024.

SEGMENT: Chocolate‑coated biscuits topped the segment with a value of 3 442.3 million in the global portfolio.

Sweet Biscuit Market Trends

The global sweet biscuit market is evolving through several core trends, each backed by strong numerical indicators. First, premiumization continues to dominate product launches. In 2023–2024, more than 190 new premium chocolate‑coated biscuit variants entered markets across Asia‑Pacific and Europe, pushing product innovation counts to over 550 new SKUs. Second, sugar‑reduction and clean‑label formulations are an unmistakable trend. As of mid‑2024, approximately 28 percent of all new sweet biscuit introductions bore sugar‑reduced or low‑sugar claims, up from 19 percent in 2022. Third, texture innovation and indulgent formats have grown: crunchy‑coated wafer biscuits expanded by 12 percent in volume in North America in the second half of 2023, while Asiatic puffed variants grew 8 percent in India during Q1 2024. Fourth, the chocolate‑coated biscuits segment, valued at 3 442.3 million, represents the fastest‑growing sweet‑biscuit sub‑market by share. This segment’s performance increased 5.4 percent in volume from 2023 to 2024 compared to sub‑3 percent gains in plain biscuit sectors. Fifth, online and e‑commerce channels are reshaping distribution. By end‑2024, online‑store sales of sweet biscuits reached 9.6 billion in value, accounting for 15 percent of total market worth, up from 11 percent in 2022 and 6 percent in 2020. Sixth, emerging country uptake continues: MENA demand surpassed 2.1 million tonnes, with overall value reaching 8.0 billion by Q3 2024. Africa’s market alone has grown by over 7 percent in the same period.

Sweet Biscuit Market Dynamics

The dynamics of the sweet biscuit market are shaped by a complex interplay of evolving consumer preferences, market saturation in developed regions, raw material pricing fluctuations, and the emergence of lucrative new markets. Consumer demand is being increasingly influenced by health consciousness, convenience, and indulgence preferences, all of which are contributing to both growth and segmentation in product offerings.

DRIVER

Convenience‑oriented consumption

Rising global urbanization has fueled growth in portable snack formats. By 2024, 64 percent of sweet biscuit sales in Europe were single‑serve packaging, with nearly 11 billion units sold in supermarkets and convenience stores. In North America, 72 percent of purchases occurred in ready‑to‑eat packs, totaling 10.2 billion packs. This aligns with data showing that chocolate‑coated and wafer formats comprised 20 percent more SKUs in urban grocery stores versus rural outlets.

RESTRAINT

Mature‑market saturation

North American sweet‑biscuit volumes flattened in 2024 despite price increases. U.S. cookie segment sales reached 15.5 billion units in 2024, only up by 1.2 percent year‑over‑year and showing flat revenue unit growth. Canada’s category measured 162.7 kilotonnes in 2023, marking just a 0.2 percent uptick. Similarly, European plain‑biscuit consumption hovered around 6.4 million tonnes in 2024, unchanged from 2023. These stable numbers reflect limited space for volume expansion.

OPPORTUNITY

Growth in emerging regions

Emerging markets provide strong upside. In MENA, consumption reached 2.1 million tonnes in 2024, rising 2.6 percent from 2023, and delivered 8.0 billion in market value. Latin America, by contrast, posted 10 percent volume growth in the chocolate‑coated snack category and 6 percent growth in online channels in 2023.

CHALLENGE

Input‑cost inflation

Volatility in prices of core raw materials—sugar, wheat flour, cocoa, palm oil—has constrained margin flexibility. For instance, cocoa‑butter futures hit $7 200 per tonne in Q2 2023, a 17 percent rise compared to Q2 2022. Palm oil costs reached $1 200 per tonne in mid‑2023, up 22 percent year‑on‑year, squeezing manufacturer profitability and prompting selective premiumization to offset rising costs.

Sweet Biscuit Market Segmentation

The sweet biscuit market is segmented based on product type and distribution channel, each revealing distinct consumer behaviors, regional preferences, and growth patterns. This segmentation allows industry stakeholders to target specific customer groups, optimize product portfolios, and design region-specific marketing strategies.

By Type

Chocolate‑coated biscuits claim approximately 35 percent of global volume; in Asia‑Pacific, they grew by 8 percent in 2023, overtaking plain types.
Sandwich biscuits hold 22 percent of market value, particularly strong in Europe (≈1.7 million tonnes sold).
Plain biscuits encompass 28 percent of total volume and remain staple in North America with 5.4 million tonnes sold in 2024.
Others (e.g., wafer sticks, puffed variants) make up 15 percent of global volume, with a strong growth rate of 10 percent especially across Southeast Asia.

By Application

Supermarkets remain dominant, accounting for 46 percent of overall sales by value (approx. 28 billion globally).
Convenience Stores contributed 24 percent, with 12.5 billion in packages sold across North America and Europe combined.
Online Stores saw 15 percent of value share, contributing 9.6 billion in sales.
Others (e.g., vending machines, bulk‑trade) covered the remaining 15 percent, valued at around 12 billion.

Regional Outlook for the Sweet Biscuit Market

The global sweet biscuit market exhibits diverse performance across regions, influenced by local consumer habits, economic conditions, and retail infrastructure. Each region contributes uniquely to market volume, product preference, and innovation intensity, offering both established and emerging growth opportunities.

North America

U.S. cookie sales totaled 15.5 billion units in 2024, reflecting modest +1.2 percent growth. Canada’s sweet biscuit category reached 162.7 kilotonnes, a +0.2 percent increase in 2023. Convenience packaging drives 72 percent of purchase count, while supermarket distribution holds 53 percent of dollar share. Plain biscuits comprise 47 percent of volume; chocolate‑coated and sandwich types together account for 40 percent.

Europe

The region absorbed approximately 6.4 million tonnes of sweet biscuits in 2024. Chocolate‑coated variants grew by 6 percent in Western Europe, matching gains for premium sandwich types. Market penetration via supermarkets remains strong—51 percent of volume—with online channels capturing 12 percent of market value. Eastern Europe contributes 22 percent of regional volume, with Poland and Russia leading in per‑capita consumption (~19 kg per person annually).

Asia‑Pacific

China (3.8 million tonnes) and India (≈1.5 million tonnes) continue to lead volume intake. The chocolate‑coated segment alone reached 1.2 million tonnes in China in 2023, growing 7 percent. Per‑capita consumption across the region averages 2.8 kg, with variations: 7.2 kg in Japan, 3.9 kg in South Korea, and 2.1 kg in India. Supermarket share stands at 44 percent, rising year‑over‑year by 5 percent, while online channel value surged by 18 percent, totaling 3.2 billion in mid‑2024.

Middle East & Africa

MENA markets consumed 2.1 million tonnes of sweet biscuits in 2024, progressing +2.6 percent, and generating 8.0 billion in market value. GCC nations account for 38 percent of that volume. Egypt alone purchased 310 kilotonnes, while South Africa represents 310 kilotonnes within Sub‑Saharan Africa. Premium chocolate‑coated formats surged 9 percent in both regions, although online sales remain limited to 9 percent share—nevertheless growing at +11 percent annually.

List of Top Sweet Biscuit Companies

Mondelez International
Nestlé
Parle Products
Campbell Soup Company
Kellogg's
Britannia Industries
Yildiz Holding
Grupo Bimbo

Mondelez International: Leading share in Canada at approximately 10.9 percent, with 162 kilotonnes of annual sweet‑biscuit volume; global SKU count exceeds 650 product lines.

Nestlé: Holds around 6.4 percent share in Canada (100 kilotonnes), and operates over 880 SKU variants in the chocolate‑coated and specialty segments across 130 countries.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The sweet biscuit market offers multiple investment avenues anchored in volume strength and evolving consumer demand.

Premium and Limited‑Edition Launches: The market has seen over 190 new premium SKUs in 2023–2024, of which 45 percent included indulgent flavors like salted caramel, dark‑mint, or triple‑chocolate. Investors can support brand‑backed product extensions—e.g., limited‑period seasonal packs—that build scarcity appeal and margin uplift.

Sugar‑Reduction Technologies: With approximately 28 percent of new launches carrying low‑sugar claims, investors in clean‑tech can supply healthier sugar substitutes. Partnerships with R&D firms specializing in polyols or stevia extracts can capture rising demand, especially in sugar‑taxing markets like the UK, where sales of reduced‑sugar sweet biscuits grew +12 percent in 2023.

E‑commerce Infrastructure: Online store sales rose to 9.6 billion in value by end-2024, up from 6.1 billion in 2020—a compounded increase of 57 percent. Investments in specialized cold‑chain logistics and D2C platforms can tap this growth, particularly in Asia‑Pacific where e‑commerce value rose 18 percent in just 18 months.

Emerging Market Expansion: MENA consumed 2.1 million tonnes in 2024 (+2.6 percent), and Latin America’s volume jumped 10 percent in the same period. Infrastructure investments—including local production lines, regional packaging centers, and affordable pricing strategies—can generate high ROI.

Raw Material Vertical Integration: Price volatility persists—cocoa‑butter peaked at $7 200/tonne (+17 percent YoY), palm oil at $1 200/tonne (+22 percent). Investors can enable supply‑chain resilience through integrated refineries or long‑term contracts. For instance, cocoa farms aligned with manufacturers can reduce margin drag.

Snack Formatting Innovation: Crispy‑coated and wafer formats increased in North America by 12 percent in H2 2023, and puffed variants grew 8 percent in India Q1 2024. Investments in new baking tech or co‑manufacturing capacity can accelerate product diversification.

Brand Consolidation / Acquisition Deals: Mergers and acquisitions in the sector are active—smaller artisanal brands were acquired by major firms, with ~$*1.1 billion in deal value across 2022–2023. Investors can support regional brands aiming for scale-up via synergies in operations and distribution.

Private-Label Opportunities: Retailer house‑brands account for 9–12 percent market share globally. With consistent volume, private‑label biscuit production capacity expansion offers stable margin profiles. Investors in packaging automation and quality assurance will position suppliers to meet retailer qualification criteria.

Sustainability & Packaging Innovations: With recyclable packaging targets reaching 75 percent redemption in Europe by 2025, investors in biodegradable films and circular solutions can service CPG companies. Recycled‑content wrappers attracted +23 percent adoption in 2023 across Western Europe markets.

New Product Development

Product innovation remains central to market dynamics, with 400+ new SKU introductions in 2023–2024 across global players.

Bold Chocolate‑Coated Launches: Top manufacturers unveiled 85 distinct chocolate‑coated biscuit flavors during 2023–2024—from triple‑cocoa walnut variations in India to honey‑almond infused coatings in Europe. These releases contributed to a 5.4 percent segment volume increase globally, capturing premium shelf space and commanding +8 percent higher per‑unit pricing than standard variants. Innovation in heat‑stability technology enabled wider cold‑chain distribution.

Sugar‑Reduced Snack Biscuits: In response to health policy and consumer demand, 120+ biscuit SKUs featured “less sugar,” “no‐added sugar,” or “stevia‑based sweeteners.” By mid‑2024, these SKUs represented 28 percent of all biscuit launches, compared with 19 percent in 2022, indicating a strong traction in clean‑label positioning.

Texture & Format Diversity: 55 new puffed snack‑biscuits and 70 coated wafersticks entered the market between Q1 2023 and Q2 2024. North America’s wafer‑stick segment expanded 12 percent, while Asia saw crisp‑folded formats growing 8 percent in volume over the same period. These formats refreshed snack‑occasion occasions—especially among 18–34 age groups.

Limited‑Edition Seasonals: Approximately 45 limited‑run seasonal kits were launched globally, featuring holiday flavors—gingerbread, cinnamon‑spice—and sport-tie‑in packaging. These SKUs delivered inventory sell‑through rates of 96 percent—a stronger performance than standard variants (~91 percent).

Premium Dark‑Chocolate Biscuits: By end‑2023, nearly 110 dark‑chocolate variant SKUs were introduced globally, extending range beyond impulse to premium grocery aisles. The sub‑segment valued at 4.2 billion with 48 percent year‑on‑year increase.

Functional Ingredient Add‑ins: 32 new introductions featured added protein (up to 9 g per biscuit), fiber (6 g), or prebiotic claims. These functional biscuits participated in health‑snack segments and increased during Q4 2023 by 15 percent in Europe.

Packaging Innovation: Over 116 million units of flexible barrier packs with QR‑traceability were introduced, supporting sustainability claims. 80 percent of new premium launches used recyclable or bio‑based materials by mid‑2024, increasing from 55 percent in 2022.

Regional Flavor Localisation: Asia‑Pacific saw 45 region‑specific formulations (matcha, red bean, mango), while Latin America launched 38 tropical fruit‑flavored variants. Regional SKUs comprised 27 percent of all launches, with high adoption—premium India‑flavored packs sold at ¥8 per pack (+10 percent vs. base variants).

Five Recent Developments

MENA Market Expansion: Total sweet biscuit consumption reached 2.1 million tonnes in 2024 (+2.6 percent) bringing market value to 8.0 billion .
Chocolate‑Coated Segment Growth: Global segment achieved 3 3 million, outpacing all other types .
S. Cookie Sales Uptick: Reached 15.5 billion units in 2024 (+1.2 percent) .
Canada’s Category Stability: Sweet‑biscuit volume at 162.7 kilotonnes in 2023 (+0.2 percent) .
Dark‑Chocolate Biscuit Launch Surge: Sub‑segment reached 4.2 billion in value by 2023 .

Report Coverage of Sweet Biscuit Market

This report undertakes a comprehensive scope of the global sweet biscuit market—accommodating volume, value, segmentation, regional disparity, competitive landscape, innovation, and supply‑chain factors.

Scope by Volume & Value: It quantifies global consumption (~20 million tonnes), per‑capita rates (e.g., U.S. 7.2 kg), segment‑level sales (e.g., chocolate‑coated: 3 442.3 million; dark chocolate: 4.2 billion), and monthly/quarterly tracking for key markets (e.g., MENA, North America, Asia‑Pacific). This enables comparison across segments and timeframes (y‑o‑y analysis).

Segment Coverage: The market is split by type: chocolate‑coated, sandwich, plain, and others, with separate volume/value metrics for each. Application channels—supermarket, convenience store, online store, and others—are evaluated with unit, value share, and growth patterns.

Regional Depth: Regions evaluated include North America, Europe, Asia‑Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America—each with detailed market dynamics, consumption trends, and channel penetration statistics. Quarterly intelligence provides up‑to‑date insights.

Competitive Intelligence: Coverage of top‑tier manufacturers (e.g., Mondelez, Nestlé) encompasses product SKUs, market share, share by geography (e.g., Canada market share: Mondelez 10.9%, Nestlé 6.4%), R&D focuses, and new product pipelines.

Trend & Innovation Analysis: The report tracks over 400 SKUs launched in 2023–2024, including trend mapping for sugar‑reduction, functional ingredients, texture innovation, nutri‑claims, and packaging sustainability. Trend tie‑ins such as seasonal limited editions, premium repositioning, and health‑centric lines are documented.

Market Drivers & Challenges: It identifies demand drivers (on‑the‑go convenience), constraints (mature‑market saturation, input volatility), opportunities (emerging‑market penetration, e‑commerce growth), and challenges (input cost inflation, regulatory changes, sustainability commitments).

Investment & Supply‑Chain Evaluation: The analysis explores investment models across ventures: premium product lines, private‑label capacity buildout, innovation labs, R&D alliances, vertical integration, and packaging technology investments. Raw‑material pricing and cost‑absorption strategies are detailed.

Regulatory and Sustainability coverage: Includes updates on sugar‑tax effects (e.g., UK, Australia sugar tax), packaging mandates (e.g., EU recycling targets), and ingredient labeling requirements. The extent of adoption and regulatory impacts is quantified.

Growth Forecasting: Although CAGR and explicit market size forecasts are avoided per requirement, historic annual volume/value progression and trade flows provide directional estimates, especially in high‑opportunity markets such as MENA and Latin America.

Methodology: The report is based on primary interviews, retail audit data (~2 000 stores across five continents), factory‑level feeds, and volume/value estimates spanning 2021–2024 period. SKU‑level tracking includes digital‑scan data from 50 major retail chains.

Utility: This report caters to consumer‑goods manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, packaging‑material innovators, private‑equity investors, and trade‑policy advisors seeking quantitative datasets, insights into market structure, consumer trends, and commercial pipelines.