The Rise of Sugar-Free Candy
With increasing health consciousness, consumers are opting for sugar-free alternatives to popular candy options. This has led to significant growth in demand for sugar-free versions of beloved candy brands. One such brand capitalizing on this trend is Sugar Free Lifesavers.
Sugar Free Lifesavers was a pioneer in providing sugar-free options as early as the 1960s but the category saw modest growth for many years. However, in recent times, sales of sugar-free Lifesavers have skyrocketed as more people cut down on sugar intake for better health and weight management. According to data from market research firm IRI, sales of sugar-free Lifesavers saw a 12% increase in 2020 alone.
Appealing to the Health-Conscious Consumer
Sugar-free candies present an enticing option for those watching their sugar or calorie intake. Lifesavers saw potential in this consumer segment and started marketing sugar-free versions as a healthier indulgence. Their sugar-free line contains sugar alcohols like sorbitol and mannitol instead of sugar. These provide similar texture and taste with much lower calories.
Lifesavers also highlighted other appealing attributes of their sugar-free line. They contain few to no calories, are gluten-free and contain no artificial colors or flavors. This clean label resonated well with health-conscious customers. The brand partnered with nutritionists and influencers promoting low-sugar lifestyles to create awareness. This led to a surge in trials that converted into repeat purchases.
Expanding Distribution and Varieties
Seeing rising demand, Lifesavers expanded distribution of their sugar-free line beyond traditional candy aisles to natural and specialty stores as well as pharmacy chains. This placed the product in front of more health-focused consumers. The brand also increased varieties within the sugar-free line, including flavors like sugar-free fruit, mint and tropical mixes.
This allowed customers to enjoy their favorite Lifesavers flavors without feeling guilty about sugar intake. New combinations kept the line exciting and elevated the brand beyond a mere sugar substitute to an enjoyable treat. The expanded distribution and variety packs helped Lifesavers sugar-free sales grow by an impressive 35% each year since 2017.
Leveraging E-Commerce and D2C Channels
Like many brands, Sugar Free Lifesavers also saw a massive surge in online sales during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Eager consumers stocked up on pantry items, including sugar-free candy for snacking. To meet the demand, Lifesavers streamlined its e-commerce operations, fulfilling digital orders itself from centralized warehouses.
The brand also launched a direct-to-consumer website to sell variety packs and subscriptions. This established a strong direct connection with customers, who could order sugar-free Lifesavers from the comfort of their homes. Leveraging consumer data, the company improved target marketing and recommendations on their site. All these measures doubled Lifesavers' e-commerce sales in 2020.
The company continues utilizing consumer insights from online sales to refine flavors, packaging and marketing initiatives. An innovative loyalty program on the D2C site also drives repeat purchases. With a future-proof strategy focusing on digital, international expansion and new product innovations, Sugar Free Lifesavers expect sugar-free sales to persist on an upward growth trajectory in coming years. Sustained demand for healthy yet indulgent snacking solutions indicates ample opportunities for this category into the foreseeable future.
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Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)