Ghouls, goblins…and gummy bears.
trick or treat You might find more fruity candy than chocolate in your Halloween handouts this year. That should be fine for young consumers. I’ve been drawn to it for years This includes non-chocolate candies such as gummies, freeze-dried sweets, and other sweets in a variety of shapes, colors, and flavors.
Last year, 52% of the total halloween Candies sold in the U.S. were made of chocolate, said Dan Sadler, director of customer insights at market research firm Circana. However, in the 12 weeks ending October 5, 44% of Halloween candy sold in the US was chocolate.
Price may also be part of it. Global cocoa prices more than quadrupled between January 2023 and January 2025 due to crop failures in West Africa, where 70% of cocoa is produced. As a result, chocolate sweets become very expensive.
In the 12 weeks ending Oct. 5, the price of Halloween chocolate candy in the U.S. averaged $8.02 per pound, while the price of non-chocolate candy averaged $5.77 per pound, Sadler said.
Let’s take a look at Halloween candy by the numbers.
$7.4 billion
How much Americans spent on Halloween candy in 2024, according to the National Confectioners Association. This represents 18% of all candy sales last year.
30 million
The number of M&Ms Mars makes each day at its Topeka, Kansas, facility where it makes Halloween candy.
$10,710
The price of a ton of cocoa in January hit an all-time high. Cocoa prices have fallen since then, but Mr Sadler said it would be many months before consumers felt the impact of the price drop.
1,254
A few miles between Topeka and New York. If you added up all the Snickers bars that Mars makes in Topeka each year, you’d make seven trips.
61%
According to Hershey, the percentage of U.S. consumers who bought trick-or-treating candy last year. Hershey said 45% of consumers reported buying Halloween candy for themselves.
40.8%
Hershey’s market share for Halloween candy last year was top. Hershey says its Halloween assortment, which includes Reese’s, KitKat and Almond Joy, was the best-selling item last Halloween.
July 5th
The day Mars began selling Halloween candy in U.S. stores this year. Mars makes Snickers, M&Ms, Skittles, Starburst, and other candies.
4.9%
According to the National Confectionery Association, dollar sales of non-chocolate candy in the United States will increase in 2024. In comparison, sales of chocolate candy increased by 0.4%.
3.6
According to Mars, the average number of weeks before Halloween Americans buy Halloween candy. Gen Z purchases earlier, about 4.5 weeks in advance.
2 years
How long does Mars take to plan for the Halloween season?
