Packages of Ice Breakers spearmints are on display at a Costco Wholesale store on April 27, 2025 in San Diego, California.
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Hershey is seeing higher sales for its mints and gummies – thanks to the growing use of GLP-1 drugs.
“We also saw strong demand for gum and mints as this category benefits from tailwinds from functional snacks, including the adoption of GLP-1,” CEO Kirk Tanner said in a pre-recorded speech ahead of the company’s earnings conference call Thursday. “Retail sales of our third largest confectionery brand, Ice Breakers, increased by more than 8% during the quarter.”
Although Tanner did not elaborate on why the growing use of GLP-1 agonists has fueled mint and gum sales, some people who take drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro report suffering from halitosis or bad breath. However, so-called Ozempic breath is not an officially listed side effect for the drug.
Dental experts have linked these medications to dry mouth, likely caused by dehydration and changes in saliva caused by the medication.
Hershey’s isn’t the only company known for its sweet treats to report a surprising increase in sales among GLP-1 users. Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Spruengli said in March that sales of premium chocolate in the United States grew faster last year among people using the drug than among those who did not.
And The Magnum Ice Cream Company told investors that data suggests that growing adoption of GLP-1 drugs would likely increase sales of its more expensive products, such as those that come in smaller portions or offer more protein or contain real fruit. He called this trend the “high-end candy substitution effect.”
“While consumers using GLP-1 eliminate [the] “Low-quality snacking categories are primarily categories such as premium chocolate, premium ice cream and protein snacks that could gain share in the overall snacking market,” CEO Peter ter Kulve said during the company’s earnings conference call in February.
Increased sales of Hershey’s cooling mints and gummies, along with a 17% increase in sales of its protein bars, helped the company’s quarterly revenue climb more than 10% in the first quarter. However, shares were down more than 2% in morning trading.