NAICS 311340 Quarterly Industry Report
Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 311340Sector: 31Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 311340 provides valuation-focused intelligence for professionals assessing nonchocolate confectionery manufacturing businesses. Data is sourced from FDA[6] food safety and labeling standards, U.S. Additional data is drawn from [Bureau of Labor Statistics[7].. Census Bureau](https://www.census.gov/) manufacturing statistics, and SBA size standards[8] to support business appraisals, acquisition due diligence, lending decisions, and investment analysis for confectionery manufacturing enterprises.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the nonchocolate confectionery manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing (NAICS 311340) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing nonchocolate confectionery products including hard candy, chewy candy, gummies, licorice, marshmallows, mints, chewing gum, candy-coated nuts, and other sugar confectionery items. These manufacturers process sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, starch, flavoring, and coloring ingredients into confectionery products sold through retail, convenience, foodservice, and private-label channels. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies nonchocolate confectionery separately from chocolate manufacturing (NAICS 311351 and 311352), recognizing the distinct product categories and manufacturing processes.
The U.S. nonchocolate confectionery market generates billions of dollars in annual sales, with seasonal demand peaks during Halloween, Easter, Valentine's Day, and Christmas driving production planning and retail distribution cycles. The FDA[6] regulates confectionery labeling, ingredient safety, and food color additive approval. Product innovation in functional gummies (vitamins, supplements, and CBD-infused products), sugar-free formulations, and premium artisan confections has expanded the category beyond traditional candy markets into health and wellness channels.
Business valuations for nonchocolate confectionery manufacturers center on brand portfolio value, manufacturing line capabilities across product formats, retail distribution relationships, and seasonal production planning capacity. Appraisers evaluate brand contribution margins, retail shelf space commitments, production line versatility for seasonal changeovers, ingredient cost management strategies for sugar and corn syrup, and the competitive positioning between branded, private-label, and specialty product segments in an industry shaped by consumer impulse purchasing behavior.
What's Included in This Industry
- Sector-specific valuation multiples and financial benchmarks for nonchocolate confectionery manufacturing operations
- Revenue and profitability analysis across hard candy, chewy candy, gummies, gum, mints, and seasonal confectionery product segments
- SBA size standard classification and lending threshold data for NAICS 311340
- Comparable transaction data from recent candy company acquisitions, brand portfolio sales, and manufacturing facility purchases
- Market analysis covering confectionery category trends, seasonal demand patterns, functional gummy growth, and sugar-free product expansion
- Workforce and labor cost benchmarking for plant managers, candy makers, packaging operators, and quality assurance technicians
- Industry risk assessment including sugar cost volatility, consumer health concerns, retail consolidation, and seasonal demand concentration
- Regulatory compliance overview covering FDA food safety standards, food color additive approval, allergen labeling, and FSMA preventive controls
- Capital expenditure profiles for cooking kettles, depositing lines, wrapping machines, gummy molds, and high-speed packaging systems
- Production metrics including pounds per line hour, yield rates, changeover times, seasonal capacity planning, and cost per pound benchmarks
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Food Manufacturing | 311 |
| Industry Group | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 3113 |
| NAICS Industry | Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing | 31134 |
| National Industry | Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing | 311340 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 311351 | Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing from Cacao Beans | Chocolate and confectionery manufacturing operations that share retail distribution channels, seasonal demand patterns, and candy industry trade show marketing |
| 311313 | Beet Sugar Manufacturing | Beet sugar manufacturing operations supplying granulated sugar as a primary ingredient to nonchocolate confectionery manufacturing facilities for candy production |
| 311221 | Wet Corn Milling and Starch Manufacturing | Wet corn milling operations supplying corn syrup, glucose, and modified starch ingredients used in gummy, hard candy, and chewy confectionery manufacturing |
| 424450 | Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers | Confectionery merchant wholesalers distributing nonchocolate candy products to convenience stores, grocery retailers, and vending machine operators |
| 311919 | Other Snack Food Manufacturing | Other snack food manufacturing operations producing candy-adjacent products including fruit snacks and snack bars that compete in confectionery retail spaces |
| 424490 | Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers | Other grocery product merchant wholesalers distributing confectionery products through mass merchandise, dollar store, and non-traditional retail distribution channels |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 13.3% | 70 |
| 2 | Texas | 9.1% | 48 |
| 3 | Illinois | 5.3% | 28 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 5.1% | 27 |
| 5 | New York | 5.0% | 26 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 4.2% | 22 |
| 7 | Utah | 4.2% | 22 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 3.4% | 18 |
| 9 | Florida | 3.4% | 18 |
| 10 | Ohio | 3.2% | 17 |
% Of Establishments
0%
13%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
56
Total SBA Loans
$21.7M
Total Loan Volume
$387K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.57%
Average Interest Rate
608
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[9] classifies Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing (NAICS 311340) with a size standard of 1,250 employees. Specialty candy makers and regional confectionery companies within this threshold qualify for SBA-backed lending[10] and government contracting preferences supporting manufacturing expansion and brand development. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOKF, National Association | 16 | $13.5M | $842K |
| 2 | Horizon Bank | 8 | $5.2M | $650K |
| 3 | Carolina Community Impact, Inc. | 8 | $1.5M | $189K |
| 4 | The Huntington National Bank | 8 | $756K | $95K |
| 5 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 16 | $732K | $46K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for nonchocolate candy manufacturing?
Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing is classified under NAICS code 311340, covering candy, gum, and sugar confectionery production per the U.S. Census Bureau[5] industry classification system.
What is the SBA size standard for confectionery manufacturing?
The SBA[9] sets the size standard for NAICS 311340 at 1,250 employees, qualifying eligible confectionery manufacturers for small business lending programs and government contracting preferences.
What products are classified as nonchocolate confectionery?
Products include hard candy, chewy and gummy candy, licorice, marshmallows, mints, chewing gum, candy-coated nuts, fruit drops, and lollipops per the U.S. Census Bureau[5] NAICS definitions for this manufacturing classification.
How are confectionery manufacturers valued?
Valuations center on brand portfolio strength, production line capabilities, retail distribution coverage, seasonal demand management, and innovation pipelines particularly in the growing functional gummy and premium candy segments.
How important is seasonal demand to candy manufacturers?
Halloween, Easter, Valentine's Day, and Christmas drive major seasonal sales spikes that concentrate production schedules and require inventory build-up capacity for timely retail delivery and promotional display programs.
What trends are driving confectionery growth?
Growth segments include functional gummies (vitamins, supplements), sugar-free and reduced-sugar formulations, premium artisan confections, and nostalgic retro candy brands appealing to adult consumers seeking comfort-food indulgences.
What risks affect confectionery manufacturers?
Major risks include sugar and corn syrup ingredient cost volatility, consumer health concerns reducing candy consumption, retail consolidation pressuring shelf space, seasonal demand concentration, and competition from alternative snack categories.
What food safety standards apply to candy makers?
Manufacturers must comply with FDA[6] FSMA preventive controls, good manufacturing practices, food color additive regulations, allergen labeling requirements (particularly for nut-containing products), and state food processing licenses.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]FDA fda.gov
- [7]U.S. Additional data is drawn from [Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [8]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [9]SBA sba.gov
- [10]SBA-backed lending sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
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