It would be nice if we could just crown one of them to be king. Snickers? Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? M&M’s? Skittles? Kit Kat? Which sweet is the sweetest of all? Unfortunately, this is a question that is virtually impossible to answer.
You can look at what candy sells the most overall, but it doesn’t really give you an accurate picture. Candy tastes vary widely from country to country and even varies from state to state in America. On top of that, some candy is not available everywhere, so we don’t know if a chocolate bar lower on the list would suddenly blow up if it was introduced somewhere else. So here is a list of the most popular candy in the world by country. Check out some of the most popular candies in the world and see which ones you recognize!
1.The US: M&Ms and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
The US just can’t seem to make up its mind about which classic American chocolate treat it prefers – the hard candy-coated pieces you can eat by the handful or delicious creamy peanut butter sandwiched between layers of milk chocolate. Reese’s and M&Ms are locked in a battle for #1 in yearly candy sales, swapping places depending on who you ask. While a survey conducted by grocery delivery service Instacart reported that Peanut M&Ms and M&Ms made the most sales in 2020, other sources report a tie between M&Ms and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Both candies routinely show up at the top of surveys of the most popular candy in the US.
2.Canada: Kit Kats and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Americans aren’t the only indecisive candy-lovers. While Kit Kats frequently top lists of the most popular candy in Canada, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups rose to the top in 2019 and 2021, a testament to a growing international appreciation of the humble American peanut.
3.Mexico and Brazil: Chocolate
According to data released in 2022, the type of candy that made the most sales in Mexico in 2018 was chocolate – 1.5 billion U.S. dollars’ worth. Considering chocolate’s long, rich history in the region, this comes as little surprise. While chocolate might top the charts in terms of sales, though, it represents only a fraction of the amazing world of unique candies Mexico has to offer. As for Brazil, which is the world’s third-largest market for chocolate confectionery, chocolate not only remains popular but is also getting better in quality. The latter half of the 2010s saw an increase in premium chocolate brand sales. Mondelez remains the company with the most sales in the country, including Lacta Bubbly, one of Brazil’s favorite chocolates.
4.South Africa: Cadbury Lunch Bar
Chocolate-covered nougat, caramel, biscuit, peanuts, and puffed rice? If only every lunch could be so sweet. As of 2016, this was the top-selling candy in South Africa, though in the past, it’s been beat out by candies sold by Beacon Sweets and Chocolates. Fun fact: This most popular South African candy is sold as “Picnic” in the UK, where it’s one of the most popular British candies.
5.UK, Ireland, Australia, and India: Cadbury Dairy Milk
This simple British milk chocolate bar is one of the most popular candies in the world, topping lists of favorite candies in a whopping four countries, including its country of origin.
