Rising Cocoa Prices Shift Halloween Candy Trends

Chocolate shortages and price hikes push consumers toward non-chocolate treats this Halloween.

Cocoa costs have surged 45% this year due to poor crop yields and erratic weather in West Africa, causing chocolate prices to soar.
Retailers have reduced the number of chocolate items on shelves, while sales of non-chocolate candies are increasing at double-digit rates.
Popular chocolate brands like Hershey are introducing new non-chocolate products, such as gummies, to diversify offerings.
M&M's has become the most popular Halloween candy, surpassing Reese's Cups, with Sour Patch Kids and Butterfinger also gaining popularity.
Concerns over ingredients like Red Dye 3, linked to cancer, are prompting some manufacturers to reassess candy formulations.