AARP Hearing Center
Whether it’s Twizzlers or Reese’s, candy is having a moment with Halloween just around the corner. And for good reason: Americans spend billions of dollars filling bowls and trick-or-treat bags with candy.
More of the same is expected this year, as a broad majority of consumers plan to buy chocolate and other candy even if they aren’t fans of Halloween, according to a survey by Instacart conducted by The Harris Poll. They’ll dole out the usuals, from chocolate to fruity-flavored candies.
Some treats are more popular than others. Chocolate tops the list — 84 percent of people surveyed by Instacart plan to purchase chocolate bars. Kroger predicts its shoppers will purchase 7.6 million pounds of chocolate this Halloween season. Fruity and chewy candy is also in demand: 56 percent of Instacart shoppers indicated they would spend their money on that type of candy.
Which candies are the most spooktacular among consumers? According to shopping data from Instacart and Kroger, these 10 top the list.
1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Keith Homan / Alamy Stock Photo
First made by Hershey employee H.B. Reese in the basement of his home, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are by far the most popular Halloween candy at both Instacart and Kroger. Last year, Instacart sold 116 tons of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, outselling any other candy. Reese’s is also expected to be the leader in sales at Kroger this Halloween season.
2. M&Ms and Peanut M&Ms
gbimages / Alamy Stock Photo
Consumers purchased 94 tons of the round, colored chocolate candies and 92 tons of the peanut variety last year, according to Instacart. M&Ms made Kroger’s top 10 list for projected candy sales in 2022 at No. 7.
