This is information gathered from a recent survey NCA did:
93% of children go trick-or-treating.
Bite-sized chocolate candies are the most popular type of candy to be included in Halloween activities (76%), followed by bite-sized non-chocolate candies (30%).
26% of households will include full-size candy (chocolate and non-chocolate) in their Halloween activities.
Kids tell us that their favorite treats to receive when trick-or-treating are candy and gum. 84% of kids said candy and gum are their favorites.
- Chocolate preferred by 50%
- Non-chocolate candy, 24%
- Gum, 10%
Kids’ least favorite items to get in their trick-or-treat bags were fruit and salty snacks like chips and pretzels.
- Fruit, 1%
- Salty snacks, 1%
- Toys, 2%
- Baked goods such as cookies/granola bars, 2%
- Other, 2%
- Don’t know, 5%
- Don’t trick-or-treat, 3%
90% of parents admit to sneaking goodies from their kids’ Halloween trick-or-treat bags.
Parents’ favorite treats to sneak from their kids’ trick-or-treat bags are snack-size chocolate bars (70% sneak these), candy-coated chocolate pieces (40%), caramels (37%) and gum (26%).
Parents’ least favorite goodie to take from their kids’ trick-or-treat bags is licorice (18%).
When kids ages 6-11 years old eat candy, they prefer chocolate candy two-to-one over candy that doesn’t contain any chocolate.
Kids ages 6-11 years old say if they were given lots of candy, they would
- Share some with their family, 66%
- Share the candy with their friends, 64%
- Give some to their teacher, 26%
- Keep it all for themselves, 7%
- Don’t know what they would do, 2%
Candy Corn by carlweaver.
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:
- 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.
- 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!
- 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!
- 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!).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.’
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
I decided to do a very scientific study to determine what people’s favorite candies were but had neither the time nor other resources to put all that together, so I turned to my favorite research tool: Twitter Search. After all, if people are talking about it on Twitter, it’s got to be thorough and accurate, right?
Honestly, it was more curiosity than anything. What do people like? I searched for “is my favorite candy” and got these results. What surprised me most was that candy corn was on the first two listings returned. I love candy corn too but I thought more people did not have the appreciation for it that I did. What disappointed me is that nobody indicated that circus peanuts (the king of squishy banana-flavored candy) were their favorite. I guess there’s no accounting for taste.
What’s your favorite candy? Here’s what others said:
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dorish:
@sdornhelm Candy corn is my favorite candy. I’d love to have some right now
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that1girl08:
3 musketeers is my favorite candy bar. You wanted to know. *giggle*
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TheBeerWench:
@JonathanNail Peanut M&Ms are my favorite candy. Well anything that combines nuts and chocolate is my favorite candy. Hehe. CREAM CHEESE?
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theang:
The bakery had one lonely coffee crisp bar so I bought it. This is my favorite candy bar and it’s nearly impossible to find.
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