As a convenience store owner, you’ll know all too well that your survival depends on profit margins. And that means choosing the right products to sell. Confectionery is a must-have for any shop, and there are plenty of options available.
In this post, we’ll reveal the best sweets to sell in a convenience store. You’ll discover everything from traditional sweets to chocolate, gummy sweets, and brands that cater for special dietary requirements.
So, let’s get straight into it.
Traditional Sweets
No convenience store’s confectionery section would be complete without a selection of traditional sweets. Many brands have stood the test of time, making them an excellent option for gifts, gatherings, and a bit of simple nostalgia.
There are so many delicious traditional sweets available, so let’s take a look at some must-haves for your store.
Boiled Sweets
Boiled sweets are the epitome of traditional confectionery, and we have plenty of delicious options available, from all-time classics like Pear Drops, Rhubarb & Custard, Strawberry & Creme, and Clove Drops.
Other popular options include Blue Raspberry Pips, Bubblegum Pips, and Aniseed Pips.
Stocking up on large jars of Appleton’s boiled sweets is an affordable way to ensure your customers' needs are catered for.
Fudge and Toffee
Whether your customers are purchasing them as gifts or to satisfy their sweet tooth, both fudge and toffee are creamy, delicious, and incredibly moreish. Fudge is an indulgence, and there are plenty of varieties available for people of all ages.
Popular flavours from our very own fudge range include Clotted Cream and Dairy Vanilla. We also have options from the Fudge Factory, including Ice Cream, Banoffee, and Chocolate Mint.
Buying large bags of English Toffee Sweets and Coffee Toffees will keep older customers happy.
Gummy Sweets
Gummy sweets are an all-time favourite for children and adults alike. Few people can resist them, and setting up a pick-and-mix area in your convenience store can significantly increase your sales.
Yes, you’ll find the typical options like Haribo, but there are plenty of other gummy sweet brands to explore.
Haribo Sweets
We’ll start with the best-known producer of gummy sweets. Haribo has a long-standing reputation for delivering delicious sweets that still reign supreme today.
Selling pre-mixed and packaged bags is ideal for customers looking for quick treats. We offer Starmix, Tangfastics, and Supermix at low prices. Or Haribo tubs can fill your pick-and-mix stall.
Best-selling options include Fried Eggs, Heart Throbs, and Cola Bottles.
Appleton’s Gummy Sweets
Our range of gummy sweets lets you replicate Haribo's quality without worrying about the price tag.
At just £5.99 for 2kg, you can stock up on Fizzy Cola Bottles, Fizzy Worms, Foam Fruit Salads, Gummy Bears, and Fried Eggs.
Chocolate
Whether it’s grabbing a cheeky snack or treating the kids after school, chocolate bars are non-negotiable for convenience stores.
Plus, there are so many brands to choose from. We recommend opting for fan favourites, while also finding some more unique options.
Chocolate Bars
Let’s start with the obvious: chocolate bars. It would be impossible to list them all, so here are the chocolates everyone loves. You’ve got traditional Dairy Milk Bars, Cadbury Chocolate Buttons, and Flakes.
Other bestsellers include Galaxy, Mars Bars, and Turkish Delights. Children’s options are also essential, with Cadbury Fudge, Chomp and Freddo bars being excellent products for your shop.
Pick and Mix Chocolate
Children love pick-and-mix chocolates, and adults can relive some good old nostalgia. Some of our bestselling chocolates include Chocolate Jazzles, Pink & White Mice, and Candy Cones.
Gifting Chocolates
Chocolate boxes make excellent last-minute gifts, and are vital for seasonal stock too. We offer bulk Whitaker's boxes in a range of flavours, including Strawberry, Tiramisu, Orange, and Peppermint Creams.
Dietary Confectionery
Convenience stores today aren’t just a place to pick up a newspaper and some milk; they cater to a wide range of dietary needs and preferences. Luckily, consumers today have more choice in terms of dietary confectionery than ever before.
From vegan sweets to Halal and sugar-free options, choosing the right options for your customer base guarantees ongoing sales.
Vegetarian and Vegan Confectionery
While traditional confectionery uses gelatine, vegetarian and vegan options are free from animal-derived ingredients. There are so many sweets to choose from, including Bubs Foam Banana Ovals and Fizzy Foam Skulls.
If you’re looking for traditional gummy sweets, Candycrave is an excellent option, with Baby Meerkats, Cola Bottles, and Dracula Teeth.
We also have vegan chocolate bars from Free’ist, including Milk Chocolate and Hazelnut.
Halal Sweets
Halal sweets are suitable for individuals who cannot eat confectionery with gelatine for religious reasons.
We offer a variety of Halal options, including our own Appleton’s Gummy Sweets range and affordable Bebeto confectionery.
Sugar Free Sweets
Sugar-free sweets aren’t just for individuals with diabetes; they’re suitable for anyone who wants to cut down on their sugar intake and protect their teeth. One of the most popular brands is Astra, offering sugar-free gummy sweets that replicate the taste of Haribo.
You can also choose zero-sugar boiled sweets, including Army & Navy, Rosey Apples, Rhubarb & Custards, and Sherbet Lemons.
Top Tips for Choosing the Right Confectionery for Your Store:
- Consider Your Customers: When choosing confectionery, think about your customer base. For example, small village stores might have an older customer base, while cities may have a more diverse customer base.
- Think About Profit: It’s important to find the right balance between profitability and quality. Opting for cheap sweets might not be the best idea, especially if your customers don’t like them. However, you don’t have to worry about this when you shop with us, as all of our sweets undergo strict quality checks.
- Mix It Up: Don’t be afraid to try new things. While some sweets are classics, new options are becoming available all the time.
As you can see, there are plenty of sweets to choose from. When you shop with Appleton’s, you can take advantage of low prices, free delivery on orders over £500, and no minimum order amounts.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with our experts for more information.