Overview
- Candy prices are up about 10.8% from last year, according to a Groundwork Collaborative analysis of NielsenIQ data shared with CNN.
- Datasembly and Nielsen data show earlier, deeper markdowns on seasonal chocolate, with more than half of Hershey items on sale at a major retailer by early October.
- Circana reports chocolate volumes fell roughly 6% in the 12 weeks to October 5 as prices rose, while non-chocolate Halloween candy volumes grew about 8.3%.
- Hershey’s CEO said Halloween sales were disappointing and signaled changes to seasonal product and marketing strategies, according to The Wall Street Journal.
- Manufacturers are leaning on promotions, smaller or reconfigured packs and lower-cocoa formulations, even as cocoa futures have eased from 2024 records but inventories bought at high prices and tariffs keep costs elevated.