Best Bulk Sweets for School Events and Fundraisers

Planning a school fete, cake sale, or fundraiser? You want sweets that'll fly off the table, won't break the budget, and most importantly, won't cause any dietary disasters. It's a lot to think about when you're already juggling volunteer schedules, raffle tickets, and whether it'll rain on the day.

The good news: buying sweets in bulk for school events doesn't have to be complicated. With a bit of planning around allergies, dietary needs, and what actually sells well, you can stock your stall with confidence. This guide walks you through what works, what to watch out for, and how to make sure every penny raised goes towards that new library or playground equipment.

At Sunshine Snacks, we've been supplying schools, PTAs, and community groups across the UK since 1996. We know what sells at fetes and what gathers dust in the cupboard afterwards. Here's what we've learned.

What Makes a Sweet Perfect for School Events

Not every sweet is suited to school fundraisers. The best ones tick several boxes at once.

Safe for most children. Nut free is usually non negotiable these days. Many schools have strict policies, and even if yours doesn't, having nut free sweets means you're not excluding anyone or worrying parents.

Easy to portion and sell. You want sweets you can pop in little bags or cups without faffing about. Pre wrapped individual sweets are brilliant because there's zero handling of the actual sweet, which keeps everything hygienic.

Appeals to children (and nostalgia loving adults). Bright colours, familiar favourites, and that satisfying chewiness or crunch make sweets irresistible. The classics sell because people know what they're getting.

Good value per portion. When you're fundraising, profit margins matter. You need sweets that are affordable to buy in bulk but still feel generous enough that people don't feel short changed.

Decent shelf life. School events take time to plan. You want sweets that'll still be perfect on the day even if you buy them a few weeks ahead.

Top Bulk Sweets That Always Sell Well

Here are the proven winners for school stalls, based on years of watching what actually shifts.

Hard Boiled Sweets

These are fundraising gold. They're affordable, last ages, come in every flavour imaginable, and you can buy them by the kilo for brilliant value.

Why they work: Individually wrapped options mean no mess, no shared contact, and they look generous when displayed in big jars or bowls. Fruit flavours appeal to everyone, and they're naturally nut free. Classic choices like pear drops, rhubarb and custard, and sherbet lemons are always popular. Our hard boiled sweets range includes traditional favourites that parents remember from their own childhoods, which creates that nostalgic pull.

Portion tip: 100 grams fills a decent sweet bag when bought in bulk, creating a healthy profit margin.

Gummy and Jelly Sweets

Kids absolutely love gummy sweets. They're chewy, brightly coloured, and come in fun shapes that catch attention.

Why they work: Gummy sweets have massive appeal across age groups. The texture is satisfying, flavours are bold, and they photograph well for social media posts promoting your event. Many are gelatine free now too, which opens them up to more children. Our jelly sweets selection includes loads of options, and our vegan and vegetarian sweets range has plenty of gummy varieties that are inclusive by default.

Dietary bonus: Lots of gummy sweets are also halal certified, which matters for inclusive school communities. When you choose gelatine free gummies, you're automatically covering multiple dietary requirements at once.

Portion tip: 150 grams is a generous portion that feels substantial. Display them loose in clear containers so children can see all the colours.

Fizzy Sweets

If you want sweets that'll get children excited and keep them coming back to the stall, fizzy sweets deliver.

Why they work: The sour fizz factor creates a sense of fun and daring. Fizzy cola bottles, sour strawberries, and fizzy dummies are perennial favourites. Our fizzy and sour sweets range includes all the classics. They're also naturally nut free and easy to portion into bags.

Storage note: Keep fizzy sweets properly sealed until the event. They can lose their fizz if exposed to air for too long, though they'll still taste fine.

Portion tip: Mix fizzy and non fizzy sweets in bags to create variety packs. This appeals to households with multiple children who have different preferences.

Foam Sweets

Foam sweets like mushrooms, fried eggs, and strawberries are fun, colourful, and have that satisfying soft texture children love.

Why they work: They're visually appealing with their bright colours and quirky shapes. Foam sweets are lightweight so you get lots of pieces per bag, which makes portions feel generous. They're also typically nut free and many are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Portion tip: 100 grams of foam sweets looks like a lot because they're so light and airy. Great value perception for buyers.

Marshmallows

Marshmallows are brilliant for fundraisers because they appeal to all ages and work well in mixed bags.

Why they work: From classic pink and white twists to shaped marshmallows, they're soft, sweet, and nostalgic. They're also relatively inexpensive in bulk, giving good profit margins. Many children who find other sweets too intense love the gentle sweetness of marshmallows.

Portion tip: Mix marshmallows with other sweets to create variety bags that appeal to different taste preferences.

Liquorice Sweets

Don't overlook liquorice sweets. Whilst not every child loves them, liquorice has devoted fans and parents often appreciate having a less sugary option.

Why they work: Liquorice allsorts and Catherine wheels are instantly recognisable. They have long shelf life and strong brand recognition. Liquorice fans will seek them out specifically.

Portion tip: Include a small liquorice option as part of your range rather than making it your main offering. It adds variety without taking over your stall.

Wrapped Sweets

Individually wrapped sweets are brilliant for hygiene conscious parents and easy portion control.

Why they work: Zero handling of the actual sweet means better hygiene, which parents appreciate. You can display them loose and let children pick their favourites, or portion them into bags. Wrapped sweets also stay fresh longer once opened because each piece is protected.

Selling tip: Display wrapped sweets in big jars or bowls where children can see them. Offer "pick your own" deals which encourage impulse buying.

Sweets to Approach with Caution

Some sweets seem like good ideas but can cause headaches at school events.

Anything with nuts. Just avoid them entirely unless you've had explicit confirmation from the school that nuts are allowed. The risk isn't worth it, and you'll exclude children with allergies.

Very sticky sweets. Toffees and caramels can be messy, especially for younger children. If you do include them, make sure they're individually wrapped.

Sweets that stain. Brightly coloured boiled sweets that stain tongues and hands can worry parents, particularly if children are wearing school uniform or nice clothes for the event.

Anything requiring refrigeration. Unless you've got proper cool storage at the event, skip sweets that need chilling. They'll melt, spoil, or create food safety concerns.

Planning Your Sweet Purchase

Let's get practical about quantities, costs, and timing.

How Much to Buy

This depends on expected attendance and how many stalls you're running, but here's a rough guide:

Small event (50 to 100 people): 5 to 10 kilos of mixed sweets Medium event (100 to 300 people): 15 to 25 kilos of mixed sweets
Large event (300+ people): 30+ kilos of mixed sweets

Not everyone buys sweets, but those who do often buy multiple bags. It's better to have leftovers (which keep for ages if stored properly) than to sell out in the first hour.

When to Order

Standard events: Order 2 to 3 weeks ahead. This gives you time to sort out portioning without last minute stress, and ensures sweets are fresh on the day.

Peak times (Christmas fetes, summer fairs): Order 4 to 6 weeks ahead. Popular sweet varieties can run low during busy seasons, and you want first pick of stock.

Lead time tip: Check with your supplier about current stock levels and delivery times. At Sunshine Snacks, we maintain good stock of school friendly bulk sweets year round and can typically deliver within a few days, but it's always worth confirming. You can contact us to discuss timing for larger orders.

Allergen and Dietary Considerations

This is crucial for school events. Getting it wrong can ruin someone's day or worse.

The Nut Free Requirement

Most schools now operate nut free policies. When buying bulk sweets, you need clear labelling that confirms they're nut free. This includes:

No nuts in ingredients: Obvious, but check. Some sweets have surprising ingredients.

No nut traces: Look for "may contain traces" warnings. Some sweets are made in facilities that handle nuts, which creates cross contamination risk. Schools typically need completely nut free sweets, not just "nut free ingredients but possible traces."

Clear supplier confirmation: When ordering, ask for explicit confirmation that sweets are suitable for nut free environments. Reputable suppliers like us provide this information clearly because we know how important it is.

Other Common Allergens

Beyond nuts, watch for:

Gelatine: Not an allergen but excludes vegetarians, vegans, and many halal observant families. Choosing gelatine free gummy sweets broadens your potential customers significantly.

Gluten: Less common in sweets than you'd think, but some liquorice and certain chocolate varieties contain gluten. If you've got gluten free sweets, label them clearly.

Dairy: Obviously present in chocolate, but also hidden in some other sweets. Clear labelling helps parents make informed choices.

Making Your Stall Inclusive

The more dietary requirements you can accommodate, the more customers you'll attract and the more money you'll raise.

Offer variety: Have a mix that includes clearly labelled vegan, vegetarian, and halal options alongside traditional sweets. Our Sunshine Bundles are designed to offer variety whilst keeping ordering simple.

Label everything: Create clear signs showing which sweets are vegan, vegetarian, halal, gluten free, etc. Parents shouldn't have to ask or guess.

Keep it simple: Don't overcomplicate. Three or four well chosen sweet types that cover most dietary needs work better than twenty options that confuse everyone.

Portioning and Packaging Tips

How you present sweets affects both sales and profit margins.

Portioning Strategies

Pre bagged sweets: Portion sweets into clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon or twist ties before the event. This speeds up sales dramatically and means you've calculated profit per item in advance. Plus it looks more professional than scooping sweets into bags during the event.

Pick and mix style: Set up clear containers where children can fill bags themselves, charged by weight. This is more interactive but slower to manage and requires scales. It works well if you've got plenty of volunteers.

Pre priced combos: Create "lucky dip" bags with mixed sweets at set prices. Children enjoy the surprise element, and it's a quick sale.

Packaging Materials

Cellophane bags: Buy food safe cellophane bags in bulk. They're affordable and show off the sweets nicely. Standard sizes are 100g and 150g capacity.

Twist ties or ribbon: Use coloured ribbon for a craft fair vibe or simple twist ties for speed. Ribbon looks nicer but takes longer.

Labels: Print simple labels with dietary information (vegan, nut free, etc.), and your school or cause name. This looks professional and helps with allergen safety.

Where to source: Party supply shops, online retailers, and wholesale suppliers stock these in bulk.

Display Ideas That Boost Sales

How you present sweets dramatically affects how much you sell.

Height and visibility: Display sweets at child eye level on tables. Use risers, crates, or boxes covered with colourful fabric to create different heights. This makes the stall look abundant and exciting.

Clear containers: Use large glass jars or clear plastic containers to display loose sweets before bagging. Children are drawn to colour and variety.

Themed decorations: Match decorations to your event theme or season. Summer fairs can have bright, beachy displays. Christmas events work with festive colours and decorations. Seasonal presentation makes stalls more memorable and Instagram worthy.

Clear signage: Make sure information is visible and easy to read. Use bright card or chalkboard signs that stand out.

Sampling (carefully): If hygiene rules allow, having a small sample of one sweet type can encourage purchases. Only do this with individually wrapped sweets that can be opened cleanly.

Storage Between Events

If you've got leftover sweets (which often happens), proper storage means you can use them for the next event.

Keep them sealed: Airtight containers or reseal the original bags properly. Air exposure is what makes sweets go stale.

Cool and dry: Store in a cupboard away from heat and humidity. Hard boiled sweets keep for 12 to 18 months. Gummies last 9 to 12 months. Chocolate keeps for 12 months in cool conditions.

Check before next use: Give sweets a quick check before the next event. If they look or smell off, bin them. But properly stored bulk sweets typically keep perfectly between termly events.

For more detailed storage advice, our guide on keeping bulk sweets fresh covers all the specifics.

Working with Suppliers

Your sweet supplier can make or break your fundraising experience.

Look for school friendly suppliers: You want suppliers who understand allergen requirements, can provide dietary information clearly, and have experience supplying schools and community groups. We've been working with schools for years and know exactly what documentation and information you need.

Ask about minimum orders: Some suppliers require large minimum orders that don't suit small school events. Others (like us) are flexible and happy to supply smaller quantities for community fundraisers.

Delivery timing: Confirm delivery dates well in advance. You don't want sweets arriving the day of the event or sitting around for weeks beforehand.

Certifications and documentation: If you need halal certification, allergen information, or vegan confirmation, ask for this when ordering. Reputable suppliers provide it as standard. Our Halal sweets and vegan ranges come with full certification.

Quick Planning Checklist

Here's your at a glance guide to planning sweet sales for school events:

Six weeks before:

• Confirm event date and expected attendance
• Check school policies on nuts and allergens
• Research suppliers and get quotes
• Decide which sweet types to sell

Four weeks before:

• Place order with supplier (earlier for Christmas or summer events)
• Buy portioning supplies (bags, ties, labels)
• Recruit volunteers for bagging and sales

Two weeks before:

• Confirm delivery date with supplier
• Prepare signs and information labels
• Create allergen information sheets

One week before:

• Portion sweets into bags (or schedule bagging party with volunteers)
• Organise stall layout and decorations
• Brief volunteers on allergen information

Day before:

• Pack everything for transport
• Print any last minute signs
• Double check you've got change float ready

Event day:

• Arrive early to set up stall attractively
• Position allergen information clearly
• Have fun and count those pounds for your cause

Final Thoughts

Sweet stalls are one of the easiest and most profitable fundraising activities for schools and community groups. They don't require specialist equipment, the stock keeps if you don't sell everything, and both children and adults love them.

The key is choosing sweets that are safe, inclusive, and appealing. From traditional hard boiled sweets to fun foam sweets, exciting fizzy varieties to soft marshmallows, there are options to suit every taste and dietary requirement. Portion carefully, label clearly, and present attractively, and your sweet stall will be one of the busiest spots at your event.

We've been supporting schools, PTAs, and community groups with quality bulk sweets since 1996. We understand the pressure to raise funds whilst keeping children safe and catering to different dietary needs. Whether you need 5 kilos or 50, nut free confirmation or halal certification, we're here to help make your fundraising event successful.

Good luck with your event. May your sweet stall sell out, your volunteers stay cheerful, and your fundraising total exceed all expectations.