Library Databases

Published: January 11, 2023
Updated: January 11, 2023

Library Databases

The Expensive World Of Business Information

Believe it or not, you cannot find everything on Google! Have you ever done an online search and found the perfect industry report only to find that it costs over $5,000? Did you know that libraries pay for many expensive databases that could be helpful in your secondary market research? 

Search engines like Google can only provide direct access to freely available information. Most of the web, including business information, lives in databases behind expensive paywalls. This paywall-protected section of the Internet is known as the deep web. Fortunately, some libraries pay to subscribe to databases so they can provide free access to their patrons — and many business databases can contain useful information such as articles, market research, and company reports.

There are several strategies you can use to access relevant business information on the deep web. First, we urge you to look up what business resources your local public or academic library can provide access to. Each database has its own arrangement, with unique interfaces and search features. It helps to know the structure and search terms of the specific database you are working with in order to retrieve effective results. 

Also, it is important to know that library databases are restricted by specific usage agreements. It can help to consult with a librarian if you have trouble navigating a specific database. They may also be able to help you find comparable information elsewhere. Libraries with robust business collections might have useful e-books, directories and trade journals. As you conduct your secondary market research you will likely need to consult both free and deep web resources.

For more information about how and why to use business databases, check out our video tutorial, Module Four: Conducting Your Industry Research.


 

UBC Library Business Databases

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you may have access to business databases through the David Lam Management Research Library and Canaccord Learning Commons through the links below.

Full Listing By Title or Full Listing By Subject

There are two different ways to identify databases: Use "by title" if you already know the name; otherwise you can search the list "by subject" to find starting places for undertaking market research, finding articles or researching companies. To learn more about how you can access library resources if you are a community user or temporary visitor, check out the UBC Library Community Users & Visitors Guide. Community users and temporary visitors may have additional access restrictions to specific databases because of license agreements.

 

Provincial Library Database Partners

How to access: Check out the database list and note the License Participants to find out which institutions have access. Otherwise, contact your local post-secondary library to see what they offer.

BC Electronic Library Network (ELN) Research Databases

ELN licenses databases with partner academic libraries. These include LexisNexis, Canadian Newsstream, Hoovers, CBCA Business, ABI/INFORM Complete and others that may be of interest to business researchers.

 

ABI/INFORM Collection

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Created by ProQuest this database contains full-text articles from over 1,000 business magazines and journals that track business conditions, trends, management techniques, corporate strategies, and industry-specific topics.

  • (2022, Dec 17). Confectionery market is expected to grow from USD 300 billion in 2021 to USD 443.23 billion by 2029 : GreyViews. Financial Services Monitor Worldwide. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
  • (2022, Dec 17). Confectionery market to touch valuation of $392.78 billion by 2028 | chocolate generates over 58% market revenue. Financial Services Monitor Worldwide. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
  • (2022, Dec 17). World chocolate market is expected to grow at a moderate pace to $263B by 2030 – IndexBox. Financial Services Monitor Worldwide.  Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
  • (2022, Dec 16). Confectionery market is expected to grow from USD 300 billion in 2021 to USD 443.23 billion by 2029 : GreyViews: Confectionery market size by product type (chocolate, cookies, ice cream, and sugar confectionery), by distribution channel (offline and online), regions, segmentation, and forecast till 2029. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
  • Terazono, E. (2022). Foodtech start-ups push bean-free coffee and chocolate. FT.Com. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
  • (2022, Dec 15). Global chocolate ingredients market report 2022-2028: Increasing awareness of health benefits and usage of functional ingredients fueling growth. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
  • (2022, Nov 30). Sales of confectionery items are estimated to reach a value of US$ 474 billion by 2033, increasing at a CAGR of 4.6%: Fact.MR report: Increased adoption of on-the-go snacks owing to hectic lifestyles and rising per capita consumption of confectionery products are anticipated to stimulate growth opportunities in the market. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
  • (2022, Nov 08). Caramel market to surpass USD 3.45 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.9% - report by market research future (MRFR): Caramel market trends and insights information by function (colors, toppings, flavors, fillings, others), form (solid & semi-solid, liquid), application (bakery & confectionery, beverages, dairy & frozen desserts, snacks, others), and region, competitive market growth, size, share and forecast to 2030. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
  • (2022, Nov 06). Chocolate confectionery market size and outlook [2022-2028] – industry share, growing demands and new technology, company profiles, production capacity, revenue, price & gross margin and forecast research | industry research biz: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war influence, the global market for chocolate confectionery estimated at US$ 114000 million in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$ 128510 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 2.0% during the forecast period 2022-2028. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
  • (2022, Nov 28). Organic cocoa market to reach USD 942.57 million by 2028 | exhibiting a CAGR of 7.42% by 2021-2028: Companies covered in the organic cocoa market report are. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
  • Day, H. (2022, Nov 28). Hayley Day: Talking business: Longview couple starts company to freeze dry candy for fun, meals for camping. TCA Regional News. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
  • State, R. (2022, Dec 20). CHRISTMAS 2022/ Sibiu: Hand-painted chocolate bauble - a sweet gift for your loved ones. TCA Regional News. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 

Mergent Online

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Provides access to US and international public company data. This database also contains data on companies that were acquired, went bankrupt, liquidated or merged out of existence from 1995 forward. Users can compare companies and export data into programs like Excel.

 

BCC Research Centre

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Publishes 250 reports annually that are complete with market intelligence, five-year forecasts, statistical and analytical data, key players, market share, industry structure and dynamics, and technological shifts and trends.

 

Business Source Ultimate

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Includes financial data, books, videos, company profiles, SWOT analyses, industry profiles, country reports, market research reports and case studies. Also includes information on industry trends, forecasts, outlooks, competitors, how to run a specific business and much more.

  • (2022). MarketLine Industry Profile: Confectionery in Canada. Confectionery Industry Profile: Canada, 1–47. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
  • (2022). MarketLine Industry Profile: Confectionery in North America. Confectionery Industry Profile: North America, 1–43. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
  • (2022). MarketLine Industry Profile: Confectionery in Global. Confectionery Industry Profile: Global, 1–46. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
  • (2021). Which confectionery and snacks companies are well set to ride out industry disruption? Aroq - Just-Food.Com (Global News), N.PAG. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
  • (2021). Back to Business: Sweets & Snacks Expo first Post-Pandemic food Show: The premier trade show for the confectionery and snack categories opens in-person.C-Store Canada, 20(2), 13. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
  • (2021). Process engineering for the confectionery industry: Solutions for homogenisation, conching and coating. Food & Drink Technology, 20(7), 20–21. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
  • (2021). Appenheimer, L., Bertram, L., Lutzhöft, N., Pletz, V., Wulff, S., Veselaj, B., & Halecker, B. Vegan Food Innovations: Adoption Behavior in the European Chocolate Market. Proceedings of ISPIM Conferences, 1–20. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
  • (2020). Kim, S.-H., & Jeon, H.-M. Chocolate choice motives and attitudes in foodservice market: Fine store product vs. manufactured product consumers. Journal of Foodservice Business Research, 23(2), 149–168. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
  • Gretler, C. (2020). 3-D Printed Chocolate to Start Reaching Consumer Market. Bloomberg.Com, N.PAG. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
  • Cunningham, S. (2020). Chocolate Maker Hershey Wades Into a U.S. Power Market Debate. Bloomberg.Com, N.PAG. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
  • Thompson, A. (2019). Bold flavors, unique experiences drive confectionery, snack product launches: Innova Market Insights reports 17 percent growth in product launches. Candy Industry, 184(2), 9. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database.

     

 

First Research Industry Profiles

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, or faculty you can access many of these reports through ABI/INFORM and/or Business Market Research Collection (Proquest).

Covers over 900 industry segments. Updated on a quarterly basis, these industry profiles contain critical analysis, statistics and forecasts to help you engage key prospects, coach key clients, and deepen customer relationships. You can search for reports by NAICS, SIC or keyword or browse by category.

  • (2022) Candy Manufacturing - Quarterly Update 12/5/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.
  • (2022) Specialty Eateries - Quarterly Update 11/28/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.

 

IBISWorld Industry Reports

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

IBISWorld research is an independent, professional publisher of high-quality market research reports. These reports analyze the underlying structure and external forces that drive an industry.

  • McGrath, S. (2022, October). Candy Production in Canada / CANADA INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 31134CA / MANUFACTURING IN CANADA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
  • DellaCamera, C. (2022, August). Chocolate Production in Canada / CANADA INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 31135CA / MANUFACTURING IN CANADA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
  • Buchko, M. (2022, September). Specialty Food Stores in Canada / CANADA INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 44529CA / RETAIL TRADE IN CANADA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
  • Buchko, M. (2021, July). Global Candy and Chocolate Manufacturing / GLOBAL INDUSTRY REPORT C1113-GL / GLOBAL MANUFACTURING. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.

 

Marketresearch.com/Freedonia Focus

How to access: Check your local public or academic library to see about access. If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

While you can search this website only some Canadian libraries provide full-text access to the market research reports on industries and demographics for North American industries. They can range from 50 to 400+ pages in length, and contain charts, tables, and graphs, and key facts. Marketresearch.com has varied industry coverage and includes US and international information.

  • Freedonia Focus Reports. (2021, April). Chocolate Candy: United States. Marketresearch.com Academic. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com Academic database.
  • Packaged Facts. (2021, April). Chocolate Candy: U.S. Market Trends and Opportunities, 13th Edition. Marketresearch.com Academic. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com Academic database.
  • Packaged Facts. (2018, October). Non-Chocolate Candy: U.S. Trends and Opportunities. Marketresearch.com Academic. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com Academic database.

 

Business Market Research Collection (Proquest)

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Business Market Research Collection brings together four sources to help students more easily conduct the research they need to produce business plans, marketing plans, startup plans, market growth analysis, and strategic and financial plans. Includes access to: Hoover's Company Profiles, OxResearch, Barnes Reports, and the older Snapshots Series, which includes market research overviews on over 40 industries and 40 countries to 2008.

  • (2022) Candy Manufacturing - Quarterly Update 12/5/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.
  • (2022) Specialty Eateries - Quarterly Update 11/28/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.

 

Statista

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

A simple to use statistics portal that integrates statistics from thousands of sources, on topics related to business, media, public policy, health and others. Statistics can be exported in PPT, XLS, PDF, and PNG formats. Some basic content available for free.

  • Statista Research Department. (2021, July 21). Chocolate confectionary revenue in Canada from 2015 to 2025.  Statista Consumer Market Outlook. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Statista Research Department. (2021, July 21). Average chocolate confectionery consumption per capita in Canada from 2015 to 2025.  Statista Consumer Market Outlook. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Statista Research Department. (2021, July 21). Chocolate confectionary volume in Canada from 2015 to 2025.  Statista Consumer Market Outlook. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Statista Research Department. (2021, July 21). Price per unit of chocolate confectionery in Canada 2015 to 2025.  Statista Consumer Market Outlook. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Trenda, E. (2022, January 7). Average annual expenditure on candies and chocolates per household in Canada in 2019, by province. StatCan. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Wunsch, N.-G. (2022, November 9). Monthly manufacturer sales of chocolate and chocolate confectionery in Canada from 2016 to 2022 (in million Canadian dollars)*.  StatCan. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Wunsch, N.-G. (2022, May 19). How often do you buy chocolate? Swagbucks. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Trenda, E. (2021, September 16). Average annual household expenditure on chocolate bars in Canada from 2010 to 2019. StatCan. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Wunsch, N.-G. (2022, November 9). Number of chocolate product manufacturing establishments in Canada as of December 2020, by region.  StatCan.Retrieved from Statista database.
  • Sabanoglu, T. (2022, September 8). Trade value of chocolate products exported from Canada from 2012 to 2020. UN Comtrade. Retrieved from Statista database. 
  • Wunsch, N.-G. (2022, November 14). Confectionery retail sales in Canada from 2009 to 2020. The Hershey Company Factbook 2020..Retrieved from Statista database.
  • (December, 2021). Chocolate market in Canada. [Statista dossier].  Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • (December, 2021). Target group: Chocolate and candy lovers in Canada. [Statista dossier].  Statista Consumer Insights. Retrieved from Statista database.
  • (2021, December). Confectionery and Snacks Report 2021. Statista Consumer Market Outlook. Retrieved from Statista database.

 

WARC: World Advertising Research Center

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

WARC has case studies from major companies and advertising agencies, as well as articles from leading advertising journals and unpublished papers. It also includes company profiles, advertising spending statistics, and demographic and economic data.

  • Nair, K. (2022, September 15). “Marketing needs marketing”: The curious case of Tony’s Chocolonely. Publicis Groupe. Retrieved from WARC database.
  • (2022). M&M’s: 3D Confectionery Advent Calendar. Design Business Association Design Effectiveness Awards. Retrieved from WARC database.
  • Brownsell, A. (2022, May). M&M’s targets full-funnel engagement with Amazon partnership. Event Reports, Advertising Week Europe. Retrieved from WARC database. 
  • Brownsell, A. (2021, May). Nestlé explores identity options for the post-cookie marketing landscape. Event Reports, Advertising Week Europe. Retrieved from WARC database. 
  • Hamill, A. (2021, October 26). Cadbury’s Claire Low: Why creativity and practicality matter for brand experiences. WARC Opinions. Retrieved from WARC database. 
  • (2022, July). Chocolate confectionery in the US. Euromonitor Strategy Briefings. Retrieved from WARC database. 
  • (2021. March). Ferrero and related parties (Food). Euromonitor Company Profiles. Retrieved from WARC database. 

 

Newspapers and News Sources - UBC Library Research Guide

How to access: The guide can be viewed through the link below. Individual resources and databases will have different access requirements.

UBC Library has an excellent collection of current and historical newspapers from B.C., Canada, and around the world. UBC affiliates will have access to these resources.

  • (2022, Dec 02). Man who escaped Syria to found thriving chocolate business in canada addresses oakville chamber. Oakville Beaver.  Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
  • (2022, Aug 09). Millions of TikTok views for Peterborough candy business Tastely box. Peterborough this Week. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
  • Morris-Underhill, C. (2022, Jun 21). Searching for sweet success: Candy shop owner carves out niche business amid pandemic setbacks. Chronicle - Herald. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
  • Burke, B.. (2021, Nov 14). Apsley candy store sees huge business growth via TikTok. The Canadian Press. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
  • Brehaut, L. (2021, Sep 01). Sweet spot: Scientists find new method for making perfect chocolate; Canadian research could transform industry. The Windsor Star. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.
  • Monteiro, M. (2022). Surviving the pandemic means selling scones and chocolate one day, then flour and sugar the next, says small business owner Aura Hertzog. Waterloo Regional Record (Online).  Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database.