We’re just a week away from Halloween, so everyone will be picking up some Halloween candy on their grocery runs. And in this economy, people are either looking for VALUE or the stuff THEY love, so they can devour some of it too.
But let’s be honest, it’s 2025, and if anyone is still buying CANDY CORN for trick-or-treaters, THEY HAVE TO BE TROLLING. Even if it’s on sale.
There’s a new report out on the two candies that are struggling the most throughout the past year, and not surprisingly, candy corn is #2. Also not surprisingly, licorice is #1. Consumer interest in candy corn is down 9.1% year-over-year, and licorice is down 13.6%.
Candy corn would’ve fallen even further, but interest was probably already very low. And not to sound morbid, but interest in licorice seems directly tied to how many great-grandparents still have the teeth for it.
Beyond those two, “marshmallow candy” dropped 9% in interest, and caramel apples are down almost 7%.
So what is GAINING in popularity?
Haribo gummies rose in interest by 48%, randomly, old-school Baby Ruth candy bars are up 42%. And Hershey’s Kisses have jumped 37% in interest compared to last year.
Other less common ones include: Matcha cookies are skyrocketing, with 139% growth, crunchy treats like candy bark, brittle, and cereal clusters have surged 11%, and general caramel sweets other than caramel apples, are up 10%.
They didn’t report on the most popular Halloween candy overall, but I’m guessing it comes in an orange package, and you have a wrapper in your home, office, or vehicle right now.
(Parade)
