Ever wondered how much chocolate is sold on Halloween? It's probably a lot, right? like, £1 billion worldwide? Maybe £2 billion? Halloween chocolate is incredibly tasty, but it couldn't be more than £3 billion, could it? Well, Halloween candy sales are a little bit more than that. Annual sweet sales in 2022 in the UK were £34 million. But what about the spooky season? Well, you're in for a shocking surprise!
How Much Chocolate is Sold on Halloween
In 2023, we bought over £1 billion worth of chocolate and sweets at Halloween in the UK alone. In the US, the number is an eye-wateringly high $3.1 billion spent on candy corn and chocolate during the Halloween season. So, chocolate sales are pretty scary over the spooky season.
Now, these figures are for all the Halloween sweets sold, not just chocolate. However, chocolate makes up a huge percentage of these numbers - around 68%! So, chocolate is the top-selling Halloween candy by some margin. It is the undisputed king of treats and a must-have for trick-or-treat bags during Halloween week.
So, it isn't just you who thinks Halloween chocolate is tantalisingly and terrifyingly tasty - it's the whole world! So, now you know the facts and figures, shall we explore some fun and strange facts about Halloween and chocolate?
6 Fun Facts About Chocolate and Halloween
1. The Weight of Halloween Chocolate
In the USA alone at Halloween, over 40,000 tonnes of chocolate is sold every year. That's about 60% of the weight of a space shuttle or 40% of a blue whale!
Globally 7.5 million tonnes of chocolate are set to be enjoyed in 2024. That's more than 20 aircraft carriers or five oil rigs! Chocolate is the world's favourite sweet treat and more is sold over Halloween than any other time of year. So when it comes time to celebrate Halloween, it’s no wonder that the weight of chocolate sold over Halloween is nearly as much as the Titanic!
2. The Most Popular Halloween Chocolate
When it comes to trick-or-treating, not all chocolates are created equal. People always have their favourites, and we'd love to know your favourites. Let us know on Instagram or Facebook what your favourite chocolates are.
In the USA, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups consistently make it to the top of the list as the most popular chocolate during Halloween. In fact, they’re so beloved that an estimated 40% of households will hand out Reese's on Halloween night. Following close behind are M&M's, Snickers, and Hershey's Bars.
If Reese's Cups have a hold over the US market, we'd like to make our case for the UK. Cocoba chocolate is super tasty, we have loads of flavours, not just peanut butter, and lots of mouth-watering hot chocolate options to enjoy as you sit around the fire telling scary stories! We also have some really fun options for the trick-or-treaters. So, if you’re trying to decide which Halloween chocolate to buy, Cocoba chocolate is the way to go!
3. The Most Polarising Halloween Candies
It’s candy corn! We don't really have this candy in the UK, and that could be because of the love-and-hate relationship that's associated with it. However, there were over 12 million packets of candy corn kernels sold in 2022. So, while they might not be to everyone's taste, some people can't get enough of it!
Did you know that candy corn has been made for over 140 years? And that it was invented by an employee of the Jelly Belly Candy Company. It can also be deep-fried and made into a beer. We’re still not sure if that makes it more delicious or less - we’ll let you be the judge!
4. The History of Halloween and Sweet Treat
The tradition of giving out sweets on Halloween didn’t start until the 1950s in the US. Although, as we learned in our origins of Halloween story, the act of handing out food at Halloween has been around for centuries. Before that, kids were more likely to receive fruits, nuts, or homemade treats - it was a sad time for sure! Still, as trick-or-treating grew in popularity, candy became a popular treat to avoid a trick and the rest is sweet, sweet history.
5. The Science Behind Chocolate Cravings
Ever wonder why chocolate is so hard to resist? Well, chocolate contains natural compounds like theobromine and phenylethylamine. These trigger the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain, like serotonin and dopamine. Which makes us feel happy and relaxed, and, of course, makes us crave more chocolate!
6. The Largest Chocolate Bar Ever Made
Did you know the largest chocolate bar ever made weighed in at a whopping 5.7 tonnes? That’s more than the weight of two elephants! It was created by a company here in the UK in 2011 and still holds the Guinness World Record. And we thought our 4kg Easter Egg was massive! Imagine stuffing that in your trick-or-treat bag on Halloween!
Halloween and Beyond: The Sweet Future of Chocolate
If you're reading this in the run-up to Halloween, make sure to explore our Halloween collection. A lot of love and spooky stuff went into the collection, we're really proud of it, and are sure you’ll find something perfect for your Halloween party, trick or treaters or a treat for yourself.
If you're reading this after Halloween, we still have plenty of sweet, delicious treats for you to enjoy. Explore our chocolate collection and find your favourites!
Leave a comment