Poland’s chocolate confectionery market reaches PLN 13.8 billion as volumes fall
Poland’s chocolate confectionery market grew 5.1% in value to PLN 13.8 billion in the 12 months to the end of July 2026, while reported volume fell 2.6%. Wedel expects annual value growth to slow to about 2–2.5% as demographic pressure offsets room for higher per-capita consumption.
Sales value rises while purchasing volumes weaken
Poland’s chocolate confectionery market increased by 5.1% year on year to PLN 13.8 billion in the 12 months ending in July 2026, according to a Wedel report cited by Do Rzeczy. At the same time, reported market volume declined by 2.6% to 207.09 million tonnes, showing that higher spending did not translate into greater physical consumption.
Chocolate products remained the largest part of Poland’s confectionery sector, accounting for 60.1% of its value. The wider confectionery market grew by 4.1% to PLN 22.94 billion over the same period, based on NIQ data covering week 31 of 2025 through week 30 of 2026. Wedel said confectionery also overtook beer and vodka during the past 12 months to become Poland’s largest fast-moving consumer goods category.
Annual growth expected to slow to 2–2.5%
Wedel managing director Herman said the Polish market should continue expanding in value, although not at the pace recorded during the previous five years. The company expects annual growth of around 2–2.5%, broadly in line with the global average. Herman identified Poland’s declining population as the main constraint on future expansion.
Consumption levels nevertheless leave room for growth. Annual chocolate confectionery consumption in Poland is just under 6 kilograms per person, compared with about 10 kilograms in the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Poland has also gained weight in the international market: its share of global sales exceeded 3.1%, up from 2.4% in 2021. Over the past five years, the Polish market grew faster than those of France and the United Kingdom and faster than the global market, according to Herman.
Brands compete on trust, format and consumption occasions
Price remains important but is not the sole purchasing criterion. The share of consumers selecting chocolate confectionery exclusively on price remains stable at around 20%. Established products, trusted brands and specific consumption occasions are gaining influence. Younger buyers are more willing to try new flavours and ideas from other regions, while older consumers more frequently choose traditional products. Snacking during travel, work and school is also shaping demand for convenient formats.
Product texture and form offer another route to differentiation: 55% of Polish consumers regard a distinctive texture or format as important, while 57% of consumers globally pay attention to interesting texture combinations. Wedel, owned by Japan’s Lotte Group, holds a 12.1% share of Polish chocolate confectionery sales by value. Wedel, Mondelez and Ferrero together control about half of the domestic market. Globally, confectionery sales rose from €102.95 billion in 2021 to €130.23 billion in 2025, and GlobalData forecasts a value above €147 billion by 2030. The United States remained the largest market in 2025 at €25.83 billion, followed by the United Kingdom at €10.67 billion and Germany at €9.82 billion.
