The Hershey Company has reported an “unexpected” lift in sales of mints and gum, as the growing use of weight-loss drugs appears to influence snacking habits.
The company said demand for breath-freshening products has strengthened alongside “functional snacking” trends linked to the use of medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
“We’ve also seen strong demand for gum and mints, as the category benefits from functional snacking tailwinds, including GLP-1 adoption,” said Kirk Tanner, CEO, Hershey.
“Retail sales for our third-largest confection brand, Ice Breakers, increased over 8 per cent in the quarter.”
While the company did not directly link the trend to specific side effects, some users of GLP-1 medications have reported experiencing bad breath, often referred to informally as Ozempic breath.
Medical experts suggest this may be linked to dry mouth caused by dehydration or changes in saliva, although it is not an officially listed side effect.
The shift in consumption patterns is also influencing other parts of the snacking category.
Premium chocolate maker Lindt & Sprungli has reported stronger US sales among GLP-1 users, while Magnum Ice Cream Company said the trend is supporting demand for smaller, higher-quality treats.
“As consumers using GLP-1s are eliminating low-quality munching categories first, categories like premium chocolate, premium ice cream, and protein snacks could gain share in the overall snacking market,” said Peter ter Kulve, CEO, Magnum Ice Cream Company.
