Chocolate Trends for Halloween

Halloween is the second biggest holiday for confectioners after Christmas. In many cases, soaring prices have caused consumers to whittle down their grocery expenditures, but spending on little luxuries remains strong, and customers are "all in" on the Spooky Season.

2023 was the biggest year on record, with customers spending $12.2 billion in the US alone. 2024 promises to be another strong year, with 85% of people surveyed planning to spend the same as or more than last year*. It's interesting to note that for over half of consumers, Halloween candy isn't just for trick-or-treaters - 53% are also buying for themselves!

_{*Retail Dive, September 3, 2024}

With so many shops in the spooky spirit, how can you make sure you stand out?

Continuing to offer the care, consistency and high-quality ingredients you're known for is step one. While customers are willing to splurge on Halloween and other seasonal treats, value has become paramount. Once you're confident your products reflect your values as an artisan, it's time to get trendy!

And don't worry if Halloween sales seem to be lagging. Very few of us do our candy shopping ahead of time, so plan your stock and your production accordingly!

7 in 10 consumers will wait until the week of Hallowe'en to buy candy

Advantage Outlook survey, August 2024

chocolate bites with nutty cashews, sweet-sour raisins — These Haunted Rocks might trigger a sense of trepidation, but with each bite, it will turn into pure, yummy glee. Made with Callebaut 811 and Cacao Barry Noir Intense.

Halloween Trend #1: Bold Colors

Orange and black are standard, of course, but throw in a bit of lime green, deep purple, and spooky black, and you've created an even more eye-catching color palette.

For a natural pop of color, look to matcha and pistachio for green. Japanese sweet potato ube for a vibrant, natural purple, and Cacao Barry Noir Intense Cacao Powder for a stunning black with a strong cocoa taste.

Chocolate Hazelnut tablets decorated with spooky spiders — These Creepy Crawly tablets are dairy-free but still rich and indulgent with Ccao Barry Hazelnut Praline.

Treats with Tricks - Healthy Indulgences

Plant-based treats and low-sugar options continue to gain traction as customers seek ways to indulge their cravings while staying healthy and treading lightly on the planet. Adding a low-sugar or dairy-free option to your selection is a surefire way to increase your fan base. With a little know-how and the right ingredients, free-from treats can be just as delicious as conventional ones.

granola-type bars covered in white chocolate and decorated to look like mummies — These fun Mummy Munch Bars are just spooky enough, plus they're low in sugar! Featuring Callebaut W2 White Chocolate and American Almond Granulated Pistachios.

Go Green!

Pistachio is the hottest flavor of 2024, offering a sophisticated flavor and natural pop of color perfect for Halloween.

Whole or granulated pistachios can add texture and flavor to bars, mendiants, and clusters, while pistachio paste offers rich flavor in a gorgeous green. Pistachios feature trendy flavor and the health halo of a good-for-you ingredient like nuts. They're a good source of protein, antioxidants, and fiber.