While chocolate dollar sales grew 14% for the four weeks ending Jan. 28, 2023, according to NielsenIQ, consumers have been especially gravitating toward non-chocolate confections, including gum, mints and gummy candy. Confection dollar sales were up 21.4%, while gum sales increased 37% and mint sales ticked up nearly 25% for the same four-week period, per…
Limited-Edition Skittles Pride Packs
SKITTLES unveiled its 2023 Pride packs as a first look at its upcoming Pride program. This year’s SKITTLES Pride packs come in five designs, each crafted by five LGBTQ artists who use their art to increase visibility and advocate for others. Each pack tells a visual story of Pride and features a QR code that takes […]
SpongeBob SquarePants Candy Fan
CandyRific has announced its new SpongeBob SquarePants candy fans. Each fan provides a burst of fanned air when the button is pushed and comes complete with 0.53 ounces of assorted fruit-flavored dextrose candies (natural flavors and colors). The fans are available now for customer orders and ship in six 12-count displays per case (assorted case) […]
Plant-Based Chocolate Chips
Nestlé Toll House Plant Based Morsels are available in two different varieties, Semi-Sweet Plant Based Morsels and Dark Chocolate Plant Based Morsels. They are made with 100% real chocolate and no preservatives, artificial colors or flavors. The Plant Based Morsels can be baked in or sprinkled on any plant-based desserts, cupcakes, ice cream, yogurt, etc. […]
Sour-Dusted Chewy Candy
Hilco has teamed up again with WARHEADS sour candy for its new WARHEADS Mega Sour Booms dusted panned candy chews. The new WARHEADS Mega Sour Booms are sour-dusted panned candy chews in four explosive flavors, including Cherry, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple and Orange. Each 2.5-ounce peg bag has a suggested retail price of $1.49. It […]
How Is Inflation Impacting Candy Sales?
The growth in candy sales across the convenience store industry clearly shows inflation isn’t going to stop Americans from eating candy. In fact, since unit prices are smaller compared to other items, consumers may be drawn to more affordable splurges. “Generally speaking, confectionery is holding up very strong despite inflation taking a big bite out…
Why Is it Important to Cross-Merchandise Candy?
Convenience store retailers need to understand why it is important to cross-merchandise candy, as it will help them to see more of this powerhouse category. Cross-merchandising is the technique of displaying complementary products next to each other. A notable advantage is that it can lead to additional sales; a somewhat more subtle advantage is the…
Globally Inspired Jelly Beans
BRACH’S released its first-ever globally inspired jelly beans: Desserts of the World. There are five new limited-edition flavors — Chocolate Macaron, Strawberry Mochi, Churro, Apple Pie and Lemon Sorbet — inspired by sweet treats from around the world. Chocolate Macaron is inspired by France; Japan sparked the idea for the Strawberry Mochi flavor; the Churro […]
What Are the Top Candy Trends in 2023?
Americans’ tastes haven’t changed in a year in terms of candy trends. That means that the same candy items that sold well in 2022 — chocolates of all sorts, gum and mints, gummies and jellies, hard candy, licorice, novelty candy, and cannabis edibles — will ring registers in 2023. And of course new products will…
Candy and Beverage Review
Zhane Isom, associate editor for CStore Decisions, reviews Hershey’s Kisses Milklicious candies, smartwater alkaline with antioxidant and Zing Zang Blazing Bloody Mary Ready-to-Drink (RTD) cocktail.