424450

Analysis

NAICS 424450 is the 2022 national industry for confectionery merchant wholesalers, part of 42445 (Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 18 example activities under it in the official index.

Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 16% and employment fell 1%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.

County Business Patterns counts 2,245 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 42,754 people at an average annual payroll of $73,451 per employee (59th percentile of national industries). 58% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.

Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include candy merchant wholesalers, cheese confections (e.g., curls, puffs) merchant wholesalers, chewing gum merchant wholesalers and chips (e.g., corn, potato) merchant wholesalers, among 18 in all.

Census lists 3 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 424420, 424490 and 312111. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.

For example, merchant wholesale distribution of frozen pretzels are classified in 424420 (Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers) instead.