2025 Premium Candy Gifting Index

TL;DR: Premium candy has emerged as a standout gifting category in 2025, offering a rare mix of high ROI for gift-givers and pure delight for recipients. Compared to wine, tech gadgets, flowers, or gift cards, artisanal sweets deliver superior personalization, broad appeal, and strong emotional connections. Market research shows food gifts are among the most desired categories across corporate and personal occasions, driving stronger relationships and lasting impressions.

The Sweet Spot in the 2025 Gifting Landscape

In 2025's gifting landscape, from boardrooms to wedding halls, premium candy gifting is punching above its weight. The global corporate gifting market is substantial, valued at $765.46 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $839.57 billion in 2024, with continued growth expected to reach $919.94 billion by 2025. Meanwhile, the $42 billion consumer and corporate food gifting market is poised for average growth of 5.2% annually through 2028. Within this vast market, one trend is clear: edible gifts – especially high-quality candies and sweets – have become a category leader. According to Packaged Facts' November-December 2023 National Online Consumer Survey, 59% of consumers have purchased food gifts for others in the last 12 months.

Sparko Sweets, an artisanal candy maker known for custom lollipops, exemplifies this shift. By focusing on handcrafted quality and creative personalization, they've turned candy into a premium gifting experience. But how exactly do premium candies stack up against traditional gift categories like fine wine, trendy gadgets, fresh flowers, or generic gift cards? Below, we present the 2025 Premium Candy Gifting Index, comparing these options on ROI for the giver, recipient satisfaction, personalization potential, and shelf life.

ROI and Impact: Candy vs. Wine, Tech, Flowers, Gift Cards

When investing in gifts – whether as a company or an individual – you want a return in the form of goodwill, loyalty, or sheer joy. Research shows that thoughtful gifting delivers measurable business results. Almost half the people (43%) say the best thing about giving corporate gifts is that it makes their relationships with customers or employees better, and 85% of businesses that give gifts say it has improved their relationships with employees and clients. Even more compelling, 68% of businesses believe that corporate gifting has a good or excellent ROI.

Premium candy plays exceptionally well in this equation. Edible treats are cost-effective but pack an emotional punch. The average amount spent on corporate gifts is $125 per gift, making candy gifts an accessible yet impactful choice. Corporate studies consistently show that more than half (52%) of gift recipients do business with a company after receiving a corporate gift, demonstrating the tangible business value of thoughtful gifting. Additionally, 76% of employees prefer gifts they can share with either family or teams, making candy an ideal choice for workplace gifting.

• Wine: Gifting a fine wine has cachet, but its ROI can be hit-or-miss. Not everyone drinks alcohol, and a bottle might be saved for later or regifted. Once the bottle is opened and gone, so is the memory.

• Tech Gadgets: High-tech gifts can wow recipients initially, but they are expensive and often not personalized to the individual. A gadget might become outdated quickly or duplicate something the person already owns. The ROI of a tech gift hinges on it being exactly right for the recipient – a tough bullseye to hit consistently.

• Flowers: A bouquet of flowers is a classic personal gift, but in ROI terms it's fleeting. Beautiful today, wilted next week. Flowers carry sentiment, yet they don't provide a lasting touchpoint or usually apply in corporate settings.

• Gift Cards: While gift cards are often seen as a safe choice, the reality is more complex. 43% of American adults have unused gift cards, and the total value of these unspent funds in the U.S. is around $23 billion. More recent data shows the average person holding $244 in unspent balances. This represents a massive lost opportunity for connection and joy.

Bottom line: Candy gifting delivers high impact per dollar. It's affordable, yet when done with quality and thought, it sparks outsized goodwill. Whether you're a company seeking client loyalty or a friend wanting to delight someone, sweets provide a tangible return: happiness, gratitude, and memorable experiences.

Recipient Satisfaction and Delight

Gifts are ultimately about making people happy. Here, premium candy shines as a universally beloved treat. Multiple studies and trends attest to the power of edible gifts to please:

• Food gifts are often a special indulgence for recipients. They are also good for people who "don't need anything" since consumers tend to think that food gifts do not contribute to clutter like other gifts. Unlike many corporate gifts that end up unused, food gifts provide immediate enjoyment.

• Food gifts have broad appeal because they engage the senses and can be shared. In an office, a box of quality candy can be put out for everyone to enjoy, spreading the goodwill and sparking conversations. This aligns with the finding that 76% of employees prefer gifts they can share with either family or teams.

• Emotional Resonance: Candy has a way of creating an emotional connection. 75% of businesses believe that corporate gifting helps to create emotional connections with recipients. Premium candy amplifies this by adding a layer of fun and nostalgia.

• The satisfaction extends beyond the immediate moment. It is likely that a food gift will be consumed, while a non-food gift may simply take up space or never be used. This practical advantage means your gift won't become clutter.

In sum, premium candy gifting scores top marks in recipient satisfaction. It delights nearly all ages, can be savored in the moment, and often turns a simple occasion into a memorable experience.

Personalization and Thoughtfulness

If 2025 has a reigning theme in gifting, it's personalization. Market research shows about 36% of buyers say they prefer personalized gifts, demonstrating the importance of custom-tailored gifts. This is where candy truly outshines wine, tech, and flowers, transforming from a simple treat into a bespoke token of affection or appreciation.

Premium candy, especially handcrafted varieties like Sparko Sweets lollipops, offers nearly endless personalization:

• Flavor & Variety: Candy can cater to taste preferences literally. From exotic fruit flavors to classic favorites, you can select a specific assortment that you know the recipient loves. Try doing that with a gadget or a bottle of wine – you get one choice, and hope they like it.

• Custom Shapes & Designs: Corporate logos, couples' initials, or special messages can be embedded directly into candy. For weddings, custom lollipops with the bride and groom's names turn sweets into personal keepsakes.

• Branded Messaging: For corporate gifts, candy allows tasteful branding. Done right, it comes off as thoughtful and professional, not as an advertisement.

• Packaging & Presentation: Candy gifts lend themselves to creative packaging. While a gift card typically comes in an envelope, candies can come in elegant jars, colorful gift boxes, or arranged as attractive displays.

Other categories can't personalize quite like this:

• Wine: You can pick red vs. white, maybe choose a region. Custom labels are usually only feasible for bulk orders.
• Tech: Personalizing a gadget is usually limited to engraving a name. The gift itself isn't unique.
• Flowers: You might choose someone's favorite colors, but beyond a note on the card, flowers don't carry personalization in the product itself.
• Gift Cards: By definition, not personal unless you count writing their name on the envelope.

In contrast, candy gifts feel "made just for you." This personalization creates gifts that wow recipients because of both their taste and thoughtfulness.

Shelf Life and Lasting Impression

Shelf life has two meanings in gifting: the literal shelf life and the longevity of the impression it leaves. Premium candy performs well on both counts.

Physical Shelf Life: High-quality candies, if properly packaged, have a decent shelf life. A well-made hard candy or lollipop can last months without losing quality. The key is that candy doesn't force immediate use – though many will indulge right away, it's perfectly fine if they save some for later. Flowers are at their peak when delivered and downhill from there, often lasting less than a week.

Lasting Impression: Candy has an interesting dual effect. It is ephemeral in use but memorable in impact. Once eaten, it's gone – yet the positive memory can linger. Food gifts are usually a quickly "disappearing gift" due to being consumed soon after receipt, which recipients actually prefer over gifts that contribute to clutter.

Gift cards, by comparison, have a long technical shelf life but 20% of people have had at least one gift certificate expire before redeeming, making this the primary reason cards go unused. Many recipients even forget about them entirely.

A Note on Sustainability: Many premium candy companies are focusing on eco-friendly packaging and ethical sourcing. Unlike plastic-heavy gadget gifts, a lot of boutique candy is made domestically with minimal packaging. Choosing consumables like candy helps reduce waste compared to physical gifts that may never be used.

Candy in Every Occasion: Weddings, Corporate Events & Beyond

One reason premium candy gifting has ascended in 2025 is its versatility. It feels as appropriate at a wedding as it does at a corporate seminar.

• Weddings & Personal Celebrations: Edible favors have become standard because guests actually take them home or eat them on the spot, which means the favor budget isn't wasted. Candy also adds to the décor and creates an interactive experience as guests pick their favorite flavors.

• Corporate Events & Client Gifting: Gift cards are the most popular type of corporate gift, making up about 37% of the market, but custom-branded candy is trending as event swag because it creates buzz and conversation starters. Event planners use custom lollipops to reinforce themes and provide Instagram-worthy moments.

• High-End Gifting: Premium candy has gone luxury, with high-end consumers purchasing designer confections. These indulgences hold their own next to traditional luxury gifts and are often used in VIP gift baskets.

• Geographic and Cultural Reach: Candy is culturally versatile. Almost every culture has some tradition of sweets for celebrations, making candy gifts a globally appreciated gesture.

Key Takeaways: Why Candy Leads the 2025 Gifting Index

• Proven ROI on Relationships: Overall, 96% of people think corporate gifts improve relationships, and more than half (52%) of gift recipients do business with a company after receiving a corporate gift. Candy, being cost-effective and universally loved, maximizes that return.

• High Recipient Satisfaction: 59% of consumers have purchased food gifts for others in the last 12 months, demonstrating strong market demand. Food gifts are often a special indulgence for recipients and create instant enjoyment.

• Shared Experience Value: 76% of employees prefer gifts they can share with either family or teams, making candy ideal for workplace and social gifting situations.

• Unmatched Personalization: Premium candies can be tailored in endless ways – flavors, designs, branding, messaging. About 36% of buyers say they prefer personalized gifts, and candy makes it easy to show thoughtfulness.

• Good Shelf Life, Zero Clutter: Food gifts do not contribute to clutter like other gifts. It is likely that a food gift will be consumed, while a non-food gift may simply take up space or never be used. This practical advantage is highly valued by recipients.

• Cross-Occasion Star: Premium candy fits any occasion. About 60% of the corporate gifts given in 2021 will be to people outside the company, and candy works equally well for personal celebrations.

• Strong Market Growth: The corporate gifting market is projected to grow from $839.57 billion in 2024 to $919.94 billion by 2025, while the $42 billion consumer and corporate food gifting market is poised for average growth of 5.2% annually through 2028.

To conclude, the "2025 Premium Candy Gifting Index" crowns gourmet candy as a category leader in both corporate and personal gifting. It checks all the boxes: ROI, satisfaction, personalization, and shelf life. Companies are leveraging it to build culture and client loyalty, and individuals are using it to make celebrations more magical. Sparko Sweets, among others, has helped elevate candy into an art form – turning lollipops into branded experience-makers and wedding favors into cherished mementos.

In 2025, premium candy is hitting that sweet spot perfectly. It's thoughtful, it's delightful, and perhaps most importantly – it's delicious. In the end, the sweetest gifts create the sweetest memories, and that's the real measure of gifting success.

Key Statistics Summary:

Corporate gifting market: $839.57 billion in 2024, projected $919.94 billion by 2025

Food gifting market: $42 billion with 5.2% annual growth through 2028

59% of consumers have purchased food gifts for others in the last 12 months

43% of American adults have unused gift cards, average $244 per person, $23 billion total

96% of people think corporate gifts improve relationships

52% of gift recipients do business with a company after receiving a corporate gift

76% of employees prefer gifts they can share with family or teams

(Data sources: Sparkgift.com Corporate Gifting Statistics, Packaged Facts Food Gifting Report, Capital One Shopping Gift Card Statistics, Postal Corporate Gifting Statistics, Giftsenda Corporate Gifting Report, and various industry research reports.)

📚 Citations

1. Research and Markets – Corporate Gifting Global Market Report 2024–2025 https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5740880/corporate-gifting-global-market-report
2. Business Research Insights – Food Gifting Market Size, Share and Forecast (2024–2033) https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/food-gifting-market-119985
3. Packaged Facts – Food Gifting in the U.S., 9th Edition (2023) https://www.packagedfacts.com/subscribe/pay/checkout/checkout?report_id=5391120
4. Bankrate – Nearly half of U.S. adults have unused gift cards — and they're worth billions https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/unused-gift-cards-survey/
5. Capital One Shopping – Gift Card Statistics 2024: The State of Unused Balances https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/gift-card-statistics
6. Giftsenda – 2023 State of Corporate Gifting Report https://www.giftsenda.com/blog/2023-state-of-corporate-gifting-report/