Brands are appealing to all the senses (and sensibilities) inside and outside the box with eye-catching colours, functional design & sustainability dominating confectionery packaging trends in 2023.

After two years of declining sales, the UK chocolate and confectionery industry finally began to show signs of recovery in 2022. And with a projected growth rate of 1.2% reaching £3.9bn in 2023, companies have every reason to face the new year with renewed optimism and resolve.

Brands are further encouraged by the absence of health measures during the crucial period leading up to Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Easter—and it shows. As you’ll see, this year many businesses are deploying packaging almost as tempting as the sweets they hold inside.

Here’s a taste of what’s to come with confectionery packaging trends in 2023.

Trend #1. Vibrant Contrasts

When Pantone revealed ‘Viva Magenta’ as its colour of the year, it confirmed the vivid colours we’d started to see post-pandemic would be sticking around for a while.

And while catching consumers’ eyes with vibrant shades is nothing new, the contrasting pairings and colour blocking puts a fresh spin on this year’s marketing efforts.

Why it works for confectionery packaging

Sweets—even to the biggest sweet tooth—are a treat. Aside from grabbing our attention, bright bold packaging communicates that an extraordinary experience awaits us. The playfulness of contrast persuasively drives the ‘treat yourself’ mentality we’ve embraced around indulgence.

Get inspired

Having trouble deciding which tones would contrast well with your brand colours? Check out this Colour Wheel and Calculator and experiment with a variety of palettes.

Examples we love:

What’s not to love about a gift with packaging that makes someone say “J’adore!” before they even open it? These beautiful chocolate cards and truffles collections from Le Chocolat de Francais could sweeten up even the most salty recipient.

Trend #2. Illustrations Galore

Colourful sketches and intricate drawings mark a definitive step away from the monotone minimalism that brands embraced in previous years.

Among the top illustration themes we’ve seen popping up repeatedly in 2023 are the use of cartoons, minimalism, and retro designs.

Why it works for confectionery packaging

Artisanal design instantly suggests less commercial, ‘hand-made’ products—a perfect fit for confections. Utilising this style on your packaging conveys authenticity, quality, and originality, while helping your items stand out amongst others.

Get inspired

Thinking about using illustrations in your next product campaign but don’t know where to start? This guide to illustrations can help you narrow down your style preferences.

Examples we love

Skilled design, bold colours and a touch of metallics tell consumers everything they need to know about Willie’s Cacao and the delectable truffles each gorgeous package holds inside. We also love the use of imagery to incorporate product info into the design (Praline Truffles with Sea Salt).

Trend #3. Sustainable Materials

In 2023, more and more consumers are putting their money where their values are when it comes to sustainability. Unsurprisingly, the first place they look to size up a product’s eco-friendliness is packaging, the #1 indicator of sustainability among UK consumers.

While most brands are still working out kinks within their own green strategies, one facet of traditional packaging is likely to leave your products on the shelf: single-use plastic. A recent survey indicates that 64% of UK households limited its use in the past year alone.

Why it works for confectionery packaging

Can chocolate bars made from raw, 90% cacao via sustainable farming be sold in unsustainable packaging? Considering the monumental shift the industry took towards organic ingredients and ethical production over a decade ago, sustainable packaging should be a matter of brand identity for most companies today.

Get inspired

There are dozens of easy hacks to hit your sustainability goals in 2023. Here are some green alternatives brands are turning to.

Paper sleeves vs. plastic wrap to seal box lids
Recyclable paper pouches vs. plastic ones
Vegan inks and digital printing vs. traditional printing methods

Examples we love

As one of the UK pioneers in adopting fully sustainable packaging across its product line, Montezuma’s Chocolates have made its gorgeous, eco-friendly boxes and wrappers almost as noteworthy as its sweets. The vibrant use of colour and functional exterior are a testament to just how far green packaging has come from brown paper boxes and twine.

Trend #4. Functionality

Is packaging ultimately the differentiating factor between a delectable, luxury sweet and a snack? In the past, premium confectionery brands equated functionality with their cheaper, mass-produced counterparts.

Today however, ease and simplicity are expected from premium products more than ever before. It isn’t because brands are lowering their standards. Rather, consumers are raising theirs. And unlike decades before, we’re willing to splurge more (and more often) on the goodies we treat ourselves to.

Why it works for confectionery packaging

Consumer behaviour is changing with more and more premium sweets being bought for self-consumption rather than a gift item. If done right, providing alternative, everyday packaging options for top-shelf treats appeals to that market without alienating your traditional client base.

Get inspired

Getting functionality right in confectionery packaging means balancing attractive design with convenient usage, all while keeping the product fresh. In 2023 we’re seeing brands do that with:

Resealable, stand-up pouches
Carton boxes with easy access openings & single serving sizes

Examples we love

A compact, beautifully-designed, sustainable chocolate container featuring flavours like Milk Champagne and Caramel Birthday Cake? Your secret is safe with us. These cylindrical boxes featuring delectable truffles from Love Cocoa are the perfect counter-to-couch treat package.

Trend #5. Font And Center

In the past, lux confectionery brands (like all specialty products) used minimal text and discreet, branded typography to target a smaller, more homogenous clientele.

However, the market today has changed—and naturally—so have the marketing techniques. With sweets companies appealing to a wider audience over vastly larger marketing channels, grabbing consumers’ ever-shrinking attention is top priority.

Expressive, customised lettering has become a go-to technique to do just this in 2023. Confectionery brands are not only putting typography at the forefront of their marketing, they’re also using it to communicate product information.

Why it works for confectionery packaging

As the confectionery industry and its market diversifies and grows, packaging text will need to work harder at standing out from the crowd. Lettering that tells your brand’s story and reflects its values instantly captures the attention of your target audience.

Get inspired

Curious about how lettering style can influence consumer behaviour? Read up on some fascinating facts on the science of typography in package design.

Examples we love

Terkenlis proves that size and placement can make or break even the most on-brand typography. This Greek sweets company ticks all the boxes when it comes to effective packaging text. Clear, simple, and eye-catching for the win.

CoLab Packaging Delivers Messages That Move Your Market

Professional prototyping with a human touch

Packaging design drawn from every angle of consumer perspective ensures products never go unnoticed. Our creative team examines your business, your customers, and your market to deliver attention-grabbing visuals and efficient design.

Sustainable for the planet—and your business

Recycled materials. Vegan inks. Carbon-neutral production. We embraced sustainability long before it was trending—and know it’s a process, not a one-size-fits-all solution. We meet your business where it is today and focus on feasible, eco-friendly practices with maximum benefits.

Our biggest flex: Flexibility

Nothing is ever business as usual in the packaging world. Last-minute orders, holiday editions, (and more SKUs than you can shake a stick at) complicate operations—fast. We’ve got you covered. Short runs, multi-design orders, and specialised range management are all part of our day’s work.

A local partner you can depend on

Never second-guess a deadline again. Keep your supply chain short and predictable by working with a packaging company that knows the Irish market and the networks that support it. We’re never too busy, or too far away to get the job done when you need it.