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Food production

Sweet shop feasibility study

Latest regulatory change: 2026 · reviewed 2026-11-05

A shop making and selling Middle Eastern and Western sweets, chocolate and cakes by the piece and by weight.

  • 123 million kgChocolate imports in 2024[5]
  • USD 1.23 billionSweets and chocolate market in 2024, according to a research estimate[4]
  • 14Allergens that must be disclosed[2]

Latest regulatory and market changes

  1. 2025From July, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) required food businesses to display nutritional information and calorie-burning time on paper and digital menus.[1]
  2. 2025The Ministry of Municipalities issued requirements for bakeries and sweet shops with an 18-month period, requiring calorie display for all products and disclosure of 14 allergens.[2]
  3. 2026The Ministry of Municipalities updated the requirements for ice cream shops, covering temperature control, allergen disclosure and health certificates for workers.[3]

Why now

  • The Eid season raises sales by 150% to 200% compared with the rest of the year, according to an estimate by someone working in the sector.[4]
  • Online sales are the fastest-growing channel, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 9.01% according to a research estimate.[4]
  • Local sweets sell for SAR 30 to 150 per kilo, and premium chocolate reaches SAR 300.[5]

123 million kgSaudi Arabia's chocolate imports in 2024, according to the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA).[5]

The idea and business model

A shop preparing Middle Eastern and Western sweets and cakes and selling chocolate by the piece, by the kilo and in boxes. Revenue comes from daily sales and from orders for occasions and seasons, especially the Eid holidays.

Model: Site-based production and sales

Project economics

Revenue formula

Kilos and pieces sold per day×Average price per kilo×Operating days, allowing for seasons

Sales channels

  • In-store sales
  • Occasion and gift-box orders
  • Online sales and delivery

Largest cost items

  • Sugar, butter, nuts and chocolate
  • Salaries
  • Rent and fit-out
  • Packaging

Decisive indicators we measure

  • Material cost per kilo
  • Waste rate
  • Seasonal share of annual sales
  • Average bill value

Relevant authorities

  • Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MoMAH) via Balady: licence and bakery and sweet shop requirements
  • Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA): food safety, product conformity and ingredient disclosure
  • Civil Defence: fire safety for ovens and preparation areas
  • Ministry of Commerce: Commercial Registration (CR)

What needs your attention

  • Sales are concentrated in seasons and Eid holidays, so inventory and seasonal staffing management are critical.
  • Calorie and allergen disclosure covers every item on display.
  • Competition from imported products and online sales.

What a Sweet shop study calculates for you

  • Cost per kilo for each item
  • Distribution of sales across months and seasons
  • Inventory and working capital before Eid
  • Daily production capacity
  • Cost of complying with the bakery and sweet shop requirements

Every one of these figures appears in your study with its source and date, built on your location and capital, with a clear line between documented facts and assumptions.

Sources

Most sources are Saudi government and press pages in Arabic; titles are kept in their original language so you can find them.

  1. إلزام المطاعم بالملّاحة والإفصاح عن كافيين المشروبات وحرق السعرات في المنيوعكاظ · 2025-06
  2. 18 شهراً مهلة للمخابز لتصحيح أوضاعها وإلزام بكشف مسببات الحساسيةعكاظ · 2025-12
  3. البلديات: تحديث اشتراطات محلات الآيس كريمعكاظ · 2026-10
  4. تفاوت أسعار حلويات وشوكولاتة العيد بين المتاجر السعودية بما يصل إلى 350%الاقتصادية · 2025-03
  5. Saudi chocolate imports hit 123m kg in 2024Arab News · 2025-03

Last reviewed: 4 November 2026. This page introduces the activity; detailed figures belong in the study.