Industry · Form 5500 business code 311300
Sugar & Confectionary Product Mfg: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered this principal business activity code on Form 5500.
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. The business code is chosen by the filer from the list in the Form 5500 instructions.
113 retirement plans in sugar & confectionary product mfg with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (96 defined contribution, 17 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 211,405 participant records and $19.4B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $62,217 per participant, above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,606 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $101 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $413M and participants $685M during the year, and the plans paid out $1.91B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 135 plans with $9.38B; by 2024 it was 113 plans (down 16%) and $19.4B (up 107%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | Industry: DC | US: DC | Industry: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $62,217 | $53,031 | $90,932 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,606 | $2,174 | $7,617 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $101 | $123 | $272 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.13% | 0.26% | 0.28% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $100 | $116 | $423 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (96 DC and 17 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $42,230 | $62,217 | $95,423 | 96 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,249 | $2,606 | $4,548 | 93 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $39.26 | $101 | $162 | 92 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $37.89 | $100 | $161 | 92 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 113 | 211,405 | $19.4B | $413M | $685M | $62,217 | $101 |
| 2023 | 118 | 192,290 | $18.5B | $352M | $572M | $52,770 | $99.51 |
| 2022 | 134 | 186,406 | $16.4B | $340M | $496M | $41,709 | $89.01 |
| 2021 | 132 | 186,950 | $19.5B | $289M | $462M | $46,524 | $87.21 |
| 2020 | 134 | 185,949 | $18.3B | $263M | $371M | $43,526 | $67.25 |
| 2019 | 134 | 159,740 | $15.8B | $236M | $311M | $38,912 | $64.34 |
| 2018 | 130 | 151,559 | $14.0B | $249M | $292M | $34,985 | $64.25 |
| 2017 | 134 | 149,448 | $14.9B | $224M | $271M | $37,964 | $49.87 |
| 2016 | 135 | 146,519 | $13.4B | $218M | $248M | $34,755 | $42.30 |
| 2015 | 130 | 141,328 | $12.8B | $277M | $233M | $35,460 | $38.95 |
| 2014 | 127 | 141,892 | $13.2B | $201M | $215M | $37,576 | $30.66 |
| 2013 | 127 | 136,914 | $12.5B | $212M | $202M | $36,963 | $34.03 |
| 2012 | 136 | 137,575 | $11.3B | $290M | $194M | $32,035 | $36.80 |
| 2011 | 131 | 137,464 | $10.4B | $238M | $195M | $27,983 | $43.69 |
| 2010 | 137 | 141,776 | $10.4B | $302M | $190M | $33,280 | $34.02 |
| 2009 | 135 | 140,409 | $9.38B | $228M | $162M | $29,073 | $19.31 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 113 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 113 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mars Veterinary Health 401(k) Savings Plan | Mars, Incorporated | NJ | DC | 66,642 | $2.56B | $38,355 | $1,650 | $30.65 |
| U. S. Retirement Plan | Mars, Incorporated | NJ | DB | 26,885 | $5.09B | $189,155 | $1 | $604 |
| U.S. Associate Savings Plan | Mars, Incorporated | NJ | DC | 20,530 | $3.38B | $164,842 | $5,827 | $92.83 |
| The Hershey Company 401(k) Plan | The Hershey Company | PA | DC | 16,793 | $2.13B | $127,025 | $5,211 | $108 |
| The Hershey Company Retirement Plan | The Hershey Company | PA | DB | 5,431 | $729M | $134,274 | — | — |
| Ferrero U.S.A., Inc. and Subsidiaries Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan | Ferrero U.S.A., Inc. | NJ | DC | 4,881 | $198M | $40,501 | $2,739 | $26.18 |
| Ferrara Candy Company 401(k) Plan | Ferrara Candy Company | IL | DC | 3,554 | $217M | $61,137 | $3,585 | $133 |
| United States Sugar Corporation - ESOP Ownership Plan | United States Sugar Corporation | FL | DC | 2,660 | $260M | $97,683 | $1,828 | — |
| Amalgamated Sugar Company Hourly Retirement Plan | Amalgamated Sugar Company | ID | DB | 2,441 | $224M | $91,703 | $6,187 | $98.82 |
| American Crystal Sugar Company 401(k) Partnership Plan | American Crystal Sugar Company | MN | DC | 2,061 | $205M | $99,685 | $2,792 | $80.99 |
| American Sugar Refining & Subsidiaries Hourly Savings and Investment Plan | American Sugar Refining, Inc. | NY | DC | 2,038 | $77.6M | $38,065 | $1,060 | $77.81 |
| Lindt & Sprungli North America, Inc. and Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC 401(k) Plan | Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC | MO | DC | 2,016 | $90.3M | $44,770 | $1,470 | $69.10 |
| See's Retirement Plan | See's Candies, Inc. | CA | DC | 1,950 | $86.0M | $44,081 | $3,087 | $104 |
| Mars Deferred Compensation Plan | Mars, Incorporated | NJ | DC | 1,877 | $598M | $318,798 | $0 | $110 |
| American Sugar Salary Savings and Investment Plan | American Sugar Refining, Inc. | NY | DC | 1,733 | $213M | $122,819 | $5,597 | $109 |
| United States Sugar Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan | United States Sugar Corporation | FL | DC | 1,586 | $52.1M | $32,864 | — | $1.75 |
| Amalgamated Sugar Company Hourly 401(k) Plan | Amalgamated Sugar Company | ID | DC | 1,494 | $54.5M | $36,484 | $523 | $43.36 |
| SCN Bestco 401(k) Plan | Harmony Foods, LLC | CO | DC | 1,453 | $72.5M | $49,880 | $2,335 | $134 |
| Florida Crystals Corporation Savings and Investment Plan | Florida Crystals Corporation | FL | DC | 1,451 | $86.6M | $59,673 | $4,548 | $98.50 |
| Joy Cone Co. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Joy Cone Co. | TX | DC | 1,445 | $142M | $98,430 | $3,316 | $31.23 |
| Joy Cone Co. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Joy Cone Co. | PA | DC | 1,413 | $101M | $71,458 | $3,618 | — |
| United States Sugar Corp. - Rip Retirement Income Plan | United States Sugar Corporation | FL | DB | 1,353 | $30.0M | $22,139 | — | $21.57 |
| Michigan Sugar Company 401(k) Savings Plan | Michigan Sugar Company | MI | DC | 1,283 | $91.3M | $71,151 | $4,028 | $97.79 |
| Perfetti Van Melle, Inc. 401(k) Plan and Trust | Perfetti Van Melle USA Inc. | KY | DC | 1,268 | $91.6M | $72,206 | $4,649 | $205 |
| Sugar Foods Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan | Sugar Foods Corp. | NY | DC | 1,251 | $100M | $80,212 | $2,578 | $38.99 |
| Lindt & Sprungli (USA), Inc. 401(k) Plan | Lindt & Sprungli (USA), Inc. | NH | DC | 1,246 | $89.5M | $71,853 | $2,525 | $52.35 |
| U.S. Associate Savings Advantage Plan | Mars, Incorporated | NJ | DC | 1,242 | $22.7M | $18,277 | $1,741 | $43.30 |
| Retirement Plan B for Employees of American Crystal Sugar Company | American Crystal Sugar Company | MN | DB | 1,196 | $77.5M | $64,814 | — | $104 |
| Ghirardelli Chocolate Company 401(k) Retirement & Savings Plan | Ghirardelli Chocolate Company | CA | DC | 1,179 | $116M | $98,553 | $4,952 | $147 |
| Brach's Confections, Inc. Retirement Plan | Barry Callebaut USA Service Company, Inc. | IL | DB | 1,141 | $49.5M | $43,408 | — | $527 |
| K.L.N. Enterprises, Inc. 401(k) Salary Reduction Plan & Trust | K.L.N. Enterprises, Inc. | MN | DC | 1,028 | $66.3M | $64,497 | $1,051 | $239 |
| The Blommer Chocolate Company Employees' Profit- Sharing and 401(k) Plan | Blommer Chocolate Company, LLC. | IL | DC | 965 | $101M | $105,022 | $2,462 | $156 |
| Sweet Rewards Retirement Plan | Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. | PA | DC | 954 | $82.8M | $86,820 | $3,054 | $279 |
| Nellson Nutraceutical, LLC Employee Savings & Retirement Plan | Nellson Nutraceutical, LLC | CA | DC | 930 | $49.8M | $53,568 | $1,833 | $171 |
| Clasen Quality Chocolate 401(k) Plan | Clasen Quality Chocolate | WI | DC | 898 | $83.9M | $93,418 | $4,632 | $37.60 |
| Florida Crystals Corporation Pension Plan | Florida Crystals Corporation | FL | DB | 827 | $83.2M | $100,644 | $13,356 | $55.55 |
| Garrett Popcorn Shops Retirement Savings Plan | Garrett Popcorn Holding Company, LLC | IL | DC | 798 | $4.4M | $5,567 | $261 | $74.07 |
| Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative 401(k) Salary Reduction Plan & Trust | Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative | ND | DC | 736 | $53.8M | $73,106 | $4,044 | $27.70 |
| See's Profit Sharing Plan | See's Candy Shops, Inc. | CA | DC | 673 | $19.2M | $28,601 | $3,075 | $2.02 |
| The Western Sugar Cooperative Hourly Savings and Investment Plan | The Western Sugar Cooperative | CO | DC | 663 | $33.4M | $50,424 | $4,177 | $119 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in sugar & confectionary product mfg?
113 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 138 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in sugar & confectionary product mfg?
The median defined contribution plan reported $62,217 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $42,230 to $95,423); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in sugar & confectionary product mfg?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,606 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in sugar & confectionary product mfg?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $101 per participant and 0.13% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.