Three confectionery companies – namely Cadbury owner Mondelēz, Nestlé, and Beacon owner, Tiger Brands – account for nearly three quarters of the market in South Africa.

Citing Euromonitor, BusinessDay noted that Mondelēz tops the country’s chocolate confectionery with a value share of 42%, followed by Nestlé SA at 23%, and Tiger Brand’s Beacon at 8%.

Mondelēz South Africa is the largest confectionery business in the country, enjoying market leadership in the chocolate, chewing gum and bubble-gum categories.

The company’s portfolio includes some of the largest snacking brands in the world, including Cadbury Dairy Milk, Halls, Oreo and Stimorol gum.

In addition, Mondelēz SA is the custodian of iconic and well-loved local brands such as Chappies bubble gum, Chomp, Lunch Bar and Dentyne chewing gum.

Mondelēz SA’s best selling chocolates are:

1. Cadbury Lunch Bar 46g
2. Cadbury Lunch Bar mini 23g
3. Cadbury Chomp 22g
4. Cadbury P.S. Caramilk 46g
5. Cadbury Crunchie 41g

Mondelēz noted that between August 2015, and July 2016, the company sold 34 760 302 Cadbury Lunch Bars (46g), more than double the mini version at 15 889 239 units.

The company sold 14 422 852 Chomps over that period, 14 088 028 P.S. Caramilk bars, and 12 842 773 Crunchie bars.

Henri Nestlé, a Swiss pharmacist, established the world-renowned Nestlé brand in 1866, and today contains some of the most recognisable chocolate brands including: Tex, Smarties, Rolo, Milo, Milky Bar, Chocolate Log, Peppermint Crisp, and Areo.

Nestlés best best selling chocolates are:

1. Kit-Kat
2. BarOne
3. Aero

Nestlé declined to provide any sales figures.

Listed company Tiger Brands meanwhile, has a number of iconic brands in its Beacon confectionery including, Inside Story chocolate bar, Superfine Chocolate, Nosh Bar, Now Bar, Tinkies, TV Bar, and Wonder Bar.

“There are many iconic brands such as Jungle energy bars, TV Bar, Nosh, Beacon Slabs and Beacon Easter marshmallow eggs,” the company noted.

While the company did not want to provide a list of best selling chocolates, it does have a clear winner – its Easter marshmallow egg.

“With this comprehensive range, consumers enjoy more than 600,000 Beacon chocolates per day across the country. During the Easter period, Beacon sells in excess of 120 million Easter marshmallow eggs,” Tiger Brands said.