Whether you’re planning a wedding, corporate event or milestone birthday party, sweets are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Everyone loves them, and stocking up on bulk confectionery is often more cost-effective than other freebies.
However, if you’re catering for hundreds or even thousands of guests, it’s important to find a supplier that offers bulk discounts without sacrificing quality.
As Appleton Sweets, we supply confectionery for businesses and events of all sizes. Our complete guide will tell you everything you need to know about purchasing sweets for events.
Why purchase sweets in bulk for events?
When you buy sweets in bulk, you can save money and ensure that any event is well-stocked. Here are the benefits of stocking up on confectionery:
- Low Cost Per Unit: Buying confectionery in large quantities allows you to save money while still enjoying premium quality.
- Customisation: Pick-and-mix confectionery is ideal for creating unique combinations for your event. For example, wedding sweets add a touch of romance to the occasion.
- Variety: Wholesale suppliers like Appleton’s offer a variety of confectionery from global brands, giving you an unparalleled selection of sweets.
- Less Waste: Purchasing individual sweets often means you’re contributing to high levels of plastic waste, but wholesale confectionery comes in larger bags, which makes it more environmentally friendly.
How to choose the right sweets for your event
Choosing the right sweets for your event can be challenging, but following these tips ensures you remain on theme or brand and keep your guests happy.
Know your guests
Which audiences are you catering for? For example, if you’re stocking up for a children’s event, you should opt for fan favourites, like wholesale gummy sweets, as there’s something for everyone.
Sophisticated events might be best served with chocolate and fudge. You can also opt for nostalgic sweets such as traditional boiled candy. Remember, corporate or upscale events should provide confectionery that matches the occasion.
Choose a budget
Bulk sweets are available at a variety of price points, but it’s important to consider quality. For example, while you may be able to get 1kg of sweets for £2, they’ll often lack flavour and consistency.
Spending a little more means you can give your guests high-quality sweets that match the occasion.
Remember to consider how many guests will be attending and budget for 100g to 150g for dessert tables or snacks and up to 250g for pick-and-mix stations.
Pick a theme
Many events have themes, such as classic weddings and baby showers. Choosing sweets that match your theme ensures consistency. For example, a classy wedding can benefit from heart-shaped sweets, while spooky gatherings should focus on Halloween-themed sweets.
When you shop with Appleton’s, you can use a variety of search filters to choose the right sweets for your colour scheme or theme.
Dietary needs and allergies
If you’re purchasing confectionery for diverse groups of attendees, it’s essential to consider any dietary needs. While you may not be able to cater for everyone, offering a wide range of sweets will keep your guests happy and ensure everyone can join in.
- Gluten Intolerance: Individuals with Celiac Disease are unable to consume gluten, so providing a selection of gluten-free sweets ensures that they don’t miss out.
- Vegetarian/Vegan Sweets: Both vegetarians and vegans can’t eat traditional gummy and foam sweets due to the gelatine content, but vegans also need to avoid milk chocolate. Luckily, there are plenty of vegetarian sweets and vegan sweets available.
- Sugar-Free: Diabetics need to avoid sugar, while people on diets might also prefer sugar-free sweets. There are many brands that mimic the taste of traditional sweets without the added calories.
Presenting your sweets
Every memorable event should stay on theme and create an authentic environment for guests. So, how you present the sweets makes a significant difference as you can make them a focal point of the event instead of a simple snack.
Here are some of our top tips for presenting your confectionery.
Use a buffet or table
Sweet tables are endlessly popular because they create a focal point and let guests pick their own confectionery. All you need to do is create a colourful display, then add bags, tongs, scoops and other accessories.
Wedding favours/party bags
Weddings are all about celebrating with your loved ones, and you can show your appreciation by offering wedding favours. Party bags might not be as popular today as they were in the 90s, but they’re still ideal for children's parties, corporate events, and weddings.
Centrepieces
Weddings, corporate functions, and non-profit events often have tables for guests, and you can enhance their experience by creating centrepieces. They elevate the table’s decor and let your guests pick their sweets.
Storage tips:
- Choose A Cool, Dry Place: Sweets can go sticky or melt in the heat, so store them in a cool and dry place.
- Use Airtight containers: Chewy and fizzy sweets tend to harden when exposed to air, but airtight containers prevent this.
- Label Everything: If purchasing unwrapped sweets, remember to check the use-by dates and label them clearly.
Buy bulk event confectionery from Appleton’s
If you're searching for high-quality sweets, Appleton’s is the go-to place for amazing deals. As one of the UK’s most reputable wholesalers, we focus on delivering affordable confectionery that never lacks quality.
Whether you’re looking for gummy sweets, themed confectionery, or anything else, we have everything you need for a successful event.
Please contact us today if you have any questions or need advice.