Candy Dish Blog

The National Retail Federation just announced the results of its annual survey, which showed a number of interesting predictions for Valentine’s Day spending. Check this out:

• On average, each person will spend $103 on the holiday.
• Spending on friends, coworkers and pets (yes, I said pets) is up while spending on significant others is down.
• Men will spend about twice as much as women will, dropping $135.35 as opposed to women’s relatively miserly $72.28.
• Candy is the second most popular Valentine’s gift, with 47.2% of people expecting to buy it, bracketed by cards (54.9%) and flowers (35.6%).

Ladies, while you are out and about buying gifts for your coworkers, don’t forget that we guys like candy and pretty things too. Let’s try to balance the Valentine’s Day spend gender disparity once and for all. Tori, Susan, Susan and Laura, I hope you are reading this. I expect some nice goodies from you on that special day.

So how much are you planning to spend? And what do you plan to buy?

Chocolate heart by Bob.Fornal.

Imagine it’s October 31.  It’s been a busy Saturday.  First you stopped by your local community center to let the kids bob for apples and show off their costumes, then you attended a party at your sister’s house in celebration of Halloween.  Now the kids have eaten a sensible dinner and your spouse has taken them out to make the neighborhood rounds in search of candy.  You expect that your own door bell will ring any second.

What’s the most important thing you need to do in preparation?  According to a national poll NCA conducted last month, it’s stash away some candy for yourself.  Our poll results showed that four in ten adults admit they purposely keep treats behind, instead of giving all the loot away to revelers. In fact, nearly one third of adults admit that they will pocket at least a handful of goodies from the treat bowl to savor for themselves.

It’s not that surprising, I suppose, since the same poll showed that people are most likely to stock their candy bowl with their own personal favorites.  I bet Candy Scientist Laura will be handing out milky caramels. Carl will hand out circus peanuts, of course.  Tori will choose something gummi, and Susan S. and I will be give out chocolate.

The majority of Americans (52 percent) report that they will be handing out chocolate on October 31.  Hard candy and lollipops (30 percent), chewy or gummi candy (19 percent), chewing or bubble gum (16 percent) and caramel treats (14 percent) round out the top five candy bowl selections. 

It wouldn’t be Halloween without trick-or-treating – that’s why43 percent of celebrants cite costumes as one of the most indispensable parts of the holiday; alongside candy as a critical must-have on Halloween night. 

Let’s hope the skies are clear come October 31, though – 38 percent of the folks that took our survey admitted that rain on Halloween night would be too scary to bear since it would dampen Halloween spirits and trick-or-treating traditions! 

You can read more results in NCA’s Halloween press release.

So – fess up.  Do you take treats from the candy bowl for yourself?  How do you decide what to buy?

Trick or Treatby PumpkinWayne

I have a sneaking suspicion that most of the regular readers of Candy Dish Blog already have determined that candy fits into a healthy active lifestyle and besides that, it makes you happy! But now there is a some scientific proof. NCA sponsored a study presented at the 2009 Experimental Biology conference this past weekend, which shows that candy consumption is not associated with chronic negative health outcomes, such as excess weight and obesity, in children and adults. In fact, children who consumed candy had lower body weights than children who reported eating no candy.

The study used data from a U.S. government nutrition survey and examined the association between candy consumption and weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference in children and adults. The survey, NHANES, is a program of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is recognized as an authoritative source for dietary patterns and health outcomes data.

According to Dr. Victor Fulgoni of Nutrition Impact, LLC, who conducted the study, the analysis found that “in children, candy consumers had statistically significant lower body weight, BMI, waist circumference and triceps skin fold measures as compared to non-consumers.” Among adults, candy eaters had statistically significantly smaller waists compared to those who don’t eat candy.

Notes NCA’s science guru Alison Bodor, “The National Confectioners Association is not suggesting that candy is a health food. The results of this NHANES analysis align with common sense and what we think most consumers already understand – that confectionery consumed in moderation can add enjoyment to an active, healthy lifestyle.”

Small treat, happiness, yummy, enjoyment, indulgence. Do the study results surprise you? How do you feel about eating candy?

Here’s where things get weird. I asked my fellow blog authors what part of the chocolate bunny they eat first and why. I wanted to get a sense of the philosophy behind the decision. Here is what we all said:

• Susan – Ears first because they are sticking out there and begging to be eaten!
• Susan S. – Depends on my mood. Not how cruel I am but how much chocolate I want. The feet are wider so one bite of feet satisfies a gluttonous mood. If I am less needy, I nibble at the ears.
• Tori – Definitely ears. Because bunny ears and bunnies are what Easter is all about! Really, I think I’ve only had a chocolate bunny once in my life. Don’t tell the Easter Bunny.
• Carl – Feet first. I don’t want him to be able to hop away before I am done.

Wait. What? Tori has only had one chocolate bunny in her life? Tori is not old like I am (or so Susan leads on that I am) but she is not a kid either. How can you have a whole childhood without multiple chocolate bunny encounters? She is from Richmond, so perhaps some sort of environmental conditions prevent the chocolate bunnies from spawning upstream or whatever they do to reproduce.

According to a survey conducted by NCA a few years ago:

Of 1,000 adults surveyed, 76 percent said they start with the ears when they munch a chocolate bunny. Eating bunnies’ feet first (five percent) and tail first (four percent) were not popular choices.

How do you take the first bite of a chocolate bunny? Do you have a rationale behind your method?

Chocolate Bunny by quasarsglow.

This is information gathered from a recent survey NCA did:

NCA recently conducted a survey – one much more organized than the one I did a few weeks ago – and found the top ten places to go for Halloween.

Each top 10 city tempts trick-or-treaters’ taste-buds with a sweet trip they won’t soon forget:

1. Hershey, Pa. – Living up to its nickname “The Sweetest Place on Earth,” Hershey, Pa. ranked number one with a 61 percent consumer rating. Trick-or-treaters of all ages can delight in free samples on a free tour ride at Hershey’s Chocolate World; dare to ride the more than 60 exhilarating rides at Hersheypark; and indulge in a chocolate treatment at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey. Both Hersheypark and Hershey’s Chocolate World will host trick-or-treaters the last two weekends in October.
2. New York, N.Y. – Fifty-four (54) percent of Americans want a sweet bite of the Big Apple. Home to landmarks like the imaginative and interactive M&M’s World, 16-story tall Hershey’s Time Square store, Jacques Torres Chocolate café and Dylan’s Candy Bar, it doesn’t need to be Halloween in New York City to find treats on every corner!
3. Orlando, Fla. – Ranking third, 53 percent of Americans agree that sunshine and sweets can’t be beat. This Halloween indulge in the sweet treats at Downtown Disney’s whimsical candy, ice-cream and soda shops, including a replica of San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square!
4. San Francisco, Calif. – Fifty-two (52) percent of Americans say they want to go to Frisco for main attractions including Ghirardelli Square and renowned Scharffen Berger chocolate factory. Also nearby, explore fruity and fun Jelly Belly factory or see the world’s largest Pez dispenser (yes, it really works!).
5. Chicago, Ill. – Home to more than 100 premier candy manufacturers and attractions, Chi-town offers a taste for every trick-or-treater. Crack open a box of Cracker Jacks at landmark Wrigley Field, or take an evening stroll down Michigan Ave. for a glimpse of the illuminated Wrigley Building. For indulgent delights, visit one of five Ethel’s Chocolate Lounges and don’t miss the free treats on The Chicago Chocolate Tour.
6. Los Angeles, Calif. – Nearly half (48 percent) of adults say they’d like to get the star treatment at Disneyland’s Candy Palace with an extensive assortment of retro candies. And trick-or-treaters won’t want to miss nearby Godiva Chocolatier, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and famous See’s Candies factory.
7. Boston, Mass. – Forty-seven (47) percent ofAmericans want a taste of Bean town and its rich candy history. Crowned the 2006 U.S. Trick-or-Treat Capital, Boston is known for “Americanizing” Halloween by launching popular traditions like carving pumpkins, wearing costumes and trick-or-treating. Discover the treats of Halloween’s birthplace at they city’s popular Sugar Heaven candy shop or dip into The Chocolate Dipper for handmade chocolates packaged in unique Boston themed assortments like ‘lobster’ and ‘clam chowder.’
8. New Orleans, La. – At Halloween everything goes down easy in the Big Easy, like the classic pralines of the French Quarter and confections from local favorites including Evans Creole Candy Factory, Laura’s Candy Shop and Aunt Sally’s Praline Shop.
9. Las Vegas, Nev. – Cash in your chips and enjoy the sweet side of Vegas. Candy lovers can check out a replica of the M&M’s sponsored #38 NASCAR racecar and catch a 3-D movie at M&M’s World, or enjoy fondue for two at landmark Ethel’s Chocolate Lounge. This Halloween, treat yourself to Vegas Images’ chocolate poker chips as you learn the tricks of the poker trade.
10. Kansas City , Mo. – Kansas City entices more than a third (34 percent) of Americans with Russell Stover headquarters and Andre’s (Andre’s Confiserie Suisse) elegant Rivaz Tearoom. Don’t miss the creative artisan chocolates costumed in hand crafted designs by world-famous confectionery chef Christopher Elbow this Halloween.

This all begs the question – where would you like to go for Halloween if you could go anywhere in the world?

Illustration Friday – Trick or Treat by creativeFlutter AKA MazerDesign

A few years ago, NCA polled kids about what they most wanted to receive when trick or treating, and the results came back as follows:

• Chocolate preferred by 50 percent
• Non-chocolate candy, 24 percent
• Gum, 10 percent

(Other choices that got only a percentage or two of the responses included fruit, baked goods, small toys – and since we were polling kids quite a few said they didn’t know or didn’t have a preference.)

Since then, I have tried to create an assortment of candy to hand out that loosely follows the guidelines above – about 50 percent about the bowl is chocolate, but I make sure to have plenty of gum and non-chocolate candy, too.

Here are a few fruity candies that you can consider passing out to the kids in your neighborhood this year:

• TOXIC WASTE® Hi-Voltage™ Bubble Gum – Crank up the volume this Halloween and awaken your taste buds with Hi-Voltage™ Bubble Gum, three extra long cables of gum each with a shockingly sour core and in hazardously sour flavors like Amp’d Apple, Surgin’ Strawberry and Blackout Blue Razz. It’s over two feet of high voltage, gum chewing fun. (Candy Dynamics)
• WONKA® Pixy Stix® – Full of the familiar sweet and sugary powder that’s perfect for trick-or-treaters of all ages, Pixy Stix® candy now comes in extra long Giant Straws filled with Maui punch, cherry, grape and orange flavors. (Nestlé Confections and Snacks Division; Division of Nestlé USA)
• LifeSavers Gummies® – Get the tart and fruity burst of soft, chewy LifeSavers Gummies® in a mix of yummy gummie flavors: cherry, watermelon, green apple, blackberry and strawberry. Fun-size packs of LifeSavers Gummies® will delight on Halloween night. (Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company)

Keep in mind that the younger the kids in your neighborhood, the more likely they are to prefer fruity candies like these, or bubble gum. 

Remember, at the end of the Halloween Candy Preview we’ll be sending a gift pack to one lucky reader.  Stay tuned.