It's nearly the holiday season and that means Halloween is nearly here. With children everywhere
getting ready for an evening of candy fulled fun, we look at the candies that will fill
everyone's trick or treat bag. Whether it's world famous favorites or something more obscure,
the biggest night of candy is coming. Here's the top 10 Most Popular Halloween Candy based
on sales.
Hershey's
We start our list with a candy classic. For well over a hundred years, these giants of
the candy world have been satisfying our chocolate needs, as well as fuelling them. Starting
out with a simple mission statement to create the world's best milk chocolate bar, Hershey's
quickly grew into one of the biggest and most successful confectionary companies. In fact,
they were so successful and popular that during the 1940's the US army included a Hershey
bar in every G.I's ration kit. That's a ration kit we could all enjoy. Over the years, Hershey's
may have left the military behind them and instead focused on adding many different candies,
chocolates and flavor combinations to their ever growing roster. However, sometimes we
all need to go back to basics and enjoy the original Hershey's from a simpler time. Pure
milk chocolate greatness. For all parents out there that are craving something sweet
but feel to old for trick or treating, Hershey's are reportedly teaming up with Yuengling to
create a sweet alcoholic drink. Although this little treat will only be available in
certain bars for now, it may not be long before everyone is enjoying a happy Hershey's halloween.
Sour Patch Kids
The next two entries on our list are actually a tie between candies. Many children this
Halloween will be seeing plenty of these candies. For our first tie we turn to Sour Patch Kids.
If there is one thing, besides candy, that makes Halloween one of the more popular holidays,
then it's the fact that we can all act like children. From young and old alike, anyone
can dress up and release their juvenile silliness. What better way to embrace the childish side
of life than with a candy that reflects this; Sour Patch Kids. While there are plenty of
gummy candies out their, none are more fun than Sour Patch Kids. Gummy Bears and Gummy
Worms are all well and good but what other sweet treat gives you a burst of both sweet
and sour at the same time? Especially one that packs a real sour after taste. We've
all pulled that face; our eyes shut tight as our mouths suck hard to extinguish the
sour fire that is engulfing our tongue. But then the moment passes and we go back for
more! Then of course there is the fact that these little treats are shaped liked people.
Just for those moments of built up rage and aggression, biting the heads off these tiny,
sour people can give a sweet moment of bliss. There may be better candies out there but none are
as fun as Sour Patch Kids.
Tootsie Pops
This next entry is tied with the Sour Patch Kids on our most popular Halloween candy's
by sales alone list, and it's possibly one of the most common seen candies out there;
it is of course Tootsie Pops. This hard candy lollipop will be thrown into almost everyone's
trick or treat bag this Halloween and although they might not be the most popular candy choice
by children, (does any child ever choose a Tootsie Pop in the store?) they are however
one of the cheapest and easiest to please everyone. Not only that but they also pride
themselves on being nut free, an easy pick for parents wanting a safe treat for the little
devils. If there is any fun to be had from a Tootsie Roll then it's the challenge of
licking to the centre. We all remember the commercials asking us how many licks it would
take to reach the centre? Over the years scientific studies have actually been performed
to find out just how many licks it takes to get to the centre. The answer is..... It varies.
Disappointing we know but the studies range from around 144 to over 400 licks depending
on the study and the person or people doing the licking. Still if you need to keep the
little one's occupied this Halloween, then put their licking powers to the test.
Hot Tamales
Our next entry was once mentioned in The B52's 'Song For A Future Generation ', as well as
being eaten by Madonna in her documentary 'Madonna: Truth or Dare.'' Sometimes a candy
can be cool - no pun intended - and that candy can almost define a generation just
by being a rebel. After all, if James Dean was a candy then he would be Hot Tamales.
So, if you're looking for some spice to warm you up this Halloween, then look no further
than Hot Tamales. The red, cinnamon flavoured candy packs a punch of intense heat that can
make even the toughest of us wince. We should have been warned by the box - dark red with
flames coming out of it, we should know better but we all love a challenge. To make matters
worse there is now a Hot Tamales 3 ALARM which contains Hot, Hotter and Hottest. Can we take
any more heat? Kids will find out this Halloween as no doubt a box of these hot candies will
find their way into their trick or treat bags. Water on standby. There are many candies
and chocolates out there but not many are as distinctive and unique as the classic Hot
Tamales.
Candy Corn
We all have fond memories of trick or treating; dressing up in our favorite scary costumes,
meeting up with friends and then going from house to house to collect our well earned
candies. Then of course there is going home, emptying out our spoils and enjoying the candy
fun. However, a lot of the time it's the anticipation of what we might get that is really the exciting
part. Will it be candy? Will it be chocolate? Will it be big bars or little bars? The
anticipation is almost too much because the reality for a lot of people is a handful of
Candy Corn. Not just Candy Corn but loose Candy Corn. Nothing screams Halloween more
than Candy Corn; the colors alone make it a perfect Halloween treat. However, Candy
Corn is one of the few candies that has everyone truly divided. You either love it or hate
it. Unfortunately most of us hate it and we have that heart felt sinking feeling when
a dish of Candy Corn is presented to us on Halloween. So much so that Candy Corn is often
in the top two when it comes to worst Halloween candies. Fortunately for this sugary sweet,
this list is based on sales and as Candy Corn is cheap and easy to give a lot out, it makes
our most popular list.
Starburst
You will notice from our list that there is one theme that binds a few of our entries
together and that theme is Mars. The Mars Company are responsible for so many of the
worlds favourite candies, in fact, it would need a separate list to truly get into the
Mars company back catalogue. But for our list, the first entry to come from the Mars company
is Starburst. The fruity chews were introduced to the world in the 1960's. Like a few other
Mars products, Starburst were introduced to the U.K first and under a different name,
Opal Fruits. Even when Opal Fruits came across the pond for the first time and were sold
in the US, they were only known as M&M's Fruit Chews. A simple yet apt title many may agree.
However, Mars was looking to change to a more permanent name and in the late 1960's came
up with Starburst. It would however take the U.K until the 1990's to catch up with the
rest of the world and change from Opal Fruits to Starburst. Over the years Starburst has
tried various flavors and candies but the original chewy candies are still a favourite
for most on a spooky Halloween night.
Snickers
This next entry on our list will come as no surprise to many of you. Snickers bars, another
Mars Company product, have been a favorite chocolate bar for many years and a Halloween
staple for just as long. With nougat, peanuts and caramel all wrapped in milk chocolate
goodness, this is the perfect holiday chocolate bar. Sorry for all you Mars Bar fans out there,
and the very few who prefer Milky Way. You know who you are! But it's Snickers that most
of us love, or is that Marathon? Up until 1990, Snickers was named Marathon in the
U.K and for a limited time, they will be known by that name again. U.K supermarket chain
Morrisons are re-releasing Marathon to celebrate it's anniversary. It may only be for a three
month period, but for that small part of the world, it's a chance to be nostalgic. The
rest of us will have to stick to the same old Snickers brand and we can't wait. Most
children will come back from their evening of trick or treating with plenty of Snickers
at the bottom of their bags. Unfortunately they tend to be the fun sized ones. But sometimes,
just sometimes, on those rare and special occasions, we are rewarded with a full size
Snickers bar. Those are the true moments of Halloween and will be talked about by kids
for years.
M&M's
While a previous entry on this list may be one of the world's favourite chocolate bars,
and another entry by the Mars Company, our next entry is possibly the most famous chocolate
period. Whether you like peanuts, almond, crispy, pretzel or just milk chocolate, M&M's
have been delighting the world for generations. It's not just the candy that is in the hearts,
minds and mouths of the world, but M&M's have enjoyed one of the most popular and most successful
advertising campaigns of any confectionary company. Making the characters of Red and
Yellow into lovable mascots for M&M was a stroke of genius and they continue to delight
customers today, even the rich and famous like to get involved from time to time. It
is interesting that considering the colourful and playful joy that M&M's give us all, its
surprising to know that the idea for this sweet treat actually came from the Spanish
civil war. During the 1930's Spain was at war with itself but through the grim battlefield
of war, Forrest Mars Sr. witnessed the soldiers enjoying a small chocolate pellet. The hard
chocolate shell on the outside prevented the inner candy from melting. With a Eureka! moment,
Forrest Mars Sr. took this idea further to give us the very first M&M. Many have tried
to copy this design over the years but non have come close, or tasted as good as the
original. M&M's are truly the candy that melts in your mouth and not in your hands.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Sometimes a candy combination comes together that is so perfect we all wonder 'why hasn't
this been done before?' One such product is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Does anything
go together better than chocolate and peanut butter? We don't think so. The number two
entry on our sweet treat list is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Arguably one of the most popular
candies to have, not just at Halloween but for any and all occasions. These chocolate
cups of peanut goodness are so popular with both children and adults alike, that they
often come out on top on many peoples 'best of' lists. Unfortunately for Reese’s, those
are purely popularity polls where as we deal in cold, hard sales facts. The facts are simple;
when it comes to candy consumption then Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are one of the US biggest
sellers, but for Halloween they are only number two. Numbers aside, many people out there
may be surprised to see Reese's Peanut Butter Cup's only at number two; after all, getting
one of these in your trick or treat bag can make a Halloween. Especially if you discover
a full size pack with three cups in it. That is pure peanut butter magic. But there is
one candy that people buy on this spooky holiday more than anything else.
Skittles
The number one entry on our countdown of the most popular Halloween candies based purely
on sales is...... ( Drum roll please).... Skittles. The colorful candy sells more than
any other at this time of year. Although Skittles may not be the most special, or even the tastiest
candy on the market, there is something about these little bags of rainbows that just makes
everyone smile. Admittedly most of the Skittle bags everyone will get on Halloween will be
the fun size versions, that doesn't stop us from enjoying them and trying to eat the whole
bag in one mouthful. Skittles are determined to hold on to their crown for next year as
they release their 'Zombie Skittles' in time for Halloween. Skittles have introduced new
flavors such as Petrifying Citrus Punch, Mummified Melon and Boogeyman Blackberry to name a few.This
may seem like a gimmick to capitalize on the ghoulish holiday but Skittles have promised
fans that it's not just a load of spooky puns. Skittles assures us that some of the flavors
will taste like rotten zombies. We are not sure what rotten zombies taste like, but we
can't wait to find out and we are sure that most of the children out there this Halloween,
will have the taste of rotten zombies in their mouths. Are we all ready to take the challenge?
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