Large confectioners – the most vocal opponent of U.S. sugar policy – have nothing to complain about. They pay less for sugar than their counterparts in other developed countries and have boosted profits under the current sugar policy.
- U.S. sugar prices are as low today as 30 years ago, yet the price of a candy bar has increased 300% over that time.
- A candy bar contained less than two pennies worth of sugar in the 1980s. Sugar still makes up less than two cents, or 1%, of a candy bar’s price tag.
- Food manufacturers pocket the windfall from falling sugar prices instead of sharing the savings with consumers.
- U.S. confectioners boast higher profit margins than hospitals, defense contractors, and even Hollywood, according to Yahoo!Finance statistics.
- Official Census data show that domestic production of candy products has grown since current sugar policy took hold in 2008.
- The press has reported more than 100 major U.S. expansion projects by candy makers since 2012.
- Manufacturers of sugar-containing products have seen 3% job growth since 2009, while employment by other food manufacturers has been flat.
- Over the last 15 years, the largest publicly held sugar-using companies saw share prices jump 136% — nearly triple the growth of the S&P index.
- Profit margins for big sugar-containing product producers has been 37% higher than other U.S. public companies in the last 15 years.