US EditionWhy Halloween Candy Is Getting More Expensive and Less Chocolate-Y
Global cocoa prices quadrupled by 2025, raising chocolate costs and reducing its Halloween candy market share from 52% to 44%, market research shows.
- This past week, trick-or-treaters in the U.S. may receive more fruity and non-chocolate candy as chocolate accounted for 44% of Halloween candy sold, down from 52% last year, Dan Sadler said.
- Poor West Africa harvests, where 70% of cocoa is produced, caused global cocoa prices to more than quadruple between Jan. 2023 and Jan. 2025, with futures rising 178% in 2024.
- Analysis of NielsenIQ data indicates candy is 10.8% more expensive this Halloween season and Americans spent $7.4 billion in 2024, according to Groundwork Collaborative.
- Hershey told retailers it would adjust `price pack architecture`, some specialty chocolate makers are cutting cocoa to 65%, and candy companies are making more gummies to protect profits.
- Although futures fell this year, producers using 2024 beans mean lower prices will take months to reach consumers, while younger customers favor non-chocolate sweets and Generation Z buys around 4.5 weeks ahead.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Blame this familiar orange ghoul for spooky high Halloween candy prices
Not to get spooky, but has anyone else felt a chill while walking down the Halloween candy aisle?� Unfortunately, it might not be unseen ghosts causing a shudder, but the price of chocolate. The ...
Trick-or-treaters may bag more gummy candy than chocolate this Halloween
Ghouls, goblins … and gummy bears. Trick-or-treaters may find more fruity candy than chocolate among their Halloween handouts this year. That should be fine with younger consumers, who have been gravitating for years toward non-chocolate candies like gummies, freeze-dried treats and other sweets that come in a variety of shapes, colors and flavors. Last year, 52% of the total volume of Halloween candy sold in the U.S. was made of chocolate, acco…
Holidays and Consumerism: Why I Struggle with the Reality of Halloween
Halloween is right around the corner, and you know what that means: stores are in full panic mode, pushing themed decorations, mountains of candy, and costumes that’ll probably rip before midnight. The message is loud and clear: buy, buy, buy. But seriously, is this what Halloween is supposed to be about? Spirit Halloween popping up in empty storefronts like some kind of retail ghost, only to vanish a month later. Party City sells costumes that …
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