Confectionery store

"Candy shop" redirects here. For the 50 Cent song, see Candy Shop.

A confectionery store or confectionery shop (more commonly referred to as a sweet shop in the United Kingdom, a candy shop or candy store in North America, or a lolly shop^[1] in Australia and New Zealand) is a store that sells confectionery, whose intended targeted marketing audiences are children and adolescents. Most confectionery stores are filled with an assortment of sweets far larger than a grocer or convenience store could accommodate. They frequently provide a variety of international sweets and retro delicacies. Very often unchanged in layout since their inception, confectioneries are known for their warming and nostalgic feel, specifically one that brings back childhood memories.^[2][3][4][5]

A store in Illinois, United States

History

"The Great Buddha Sweet Shop" from Akizato Rito's Miyako meisho zue (1787)

Akisato Ritō's Miyako meisho zue (An Illustrated Guide to the Capital) from 1787 describes a confectionery store in Kyoto, situated near the Great Buddha erected by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, then one of the town's most important tourist attractions.^[6]

In 1917, there were 55 confectionery shops in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which had a population of 70,000 people.^[7]

The Oldest Sweet Shop in England, in the village of Pateley Bridge

Guinness World Records has recognized a shop in the village of Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire, England, as the oldest continuously operating sweet shop in the world.^[8] The Oldest Sweet Shop in the World was founded in 1827.^[8][9]

Modern confectionery stores

Interior of Dylan's Candy Bar in Miami

Dedicated confectionery stores are popular in many countries, but their numbers per capita vary widely within the country and among the countries.^[10] Confectionery stores contribute to higher candy and sugar consumption around the world. In Sweden, confectionery stores are the key reason the nation leads the world in candy consumption.^[11][12]

Now in the 21st-century, candies and chocolates have hit an all time high in sales and consumption. Even after factors such as inflation and budget concerns, confections sales have skyrocketing with a survey showing that 98% of consumers buying candy in 2023^[13] This has attributed to the confection stores' rise with over 23 thousand stores across the United States of America reported in 2024. Vermont specifically being called "The Candy Capital" with 12.2 confectionery stores per 100,000 residents. ^[14]

There are many well-known confectionery stores. Some of these include the M&M's World stores which houses locations across the world in countries like New York City, London, and Shanghai. The London M&M's World is the largest confectionery store in the whole world at 35,000 square feet across 4 floors.^[15]

Another popular brand of confectionery stores is Dylan's Candy Bar, a US chain that houses many types of candy across the USA^{[citation needed]}

Products

See also: List of candies

See also

• Food portal

• Candy making
• Chocolaterie
• Konditorei