News Brief: Chocolate’s Halloween Reign Threatened
Summary
Halloween 2024 faces a significant shift as soaring chocolate prices, driven by inflation, tariffs, and a global cocoa shortage, push consumers toward cheaper, non-chocolate candies. Candy makers are adapting with new products and strategies.
Key Points
- Price Surge: Chocolate prices have jumped nearly 30% since last Halloween and 78% over five years.
- Market Shift: Chocolate’s share of Halloween candy sales has dropped from 52% to 44%, with shoppers favoring gummies and sour treats.
- Supply Crisis: A global cocoa deficit, the largest in 60 years, is caused by poor harvests in West Africa, which produces 70% of the world’s cocoa.
- Industry Response: Companies like Hershey and Mondelez are expanding gummy lines, creating smaller bars, and exploring cocoa-free options to manage costs and appeal to Gen-Z.
- Consumer Impact: Despite higher prices, overall candy spending remains strong, with a record $3.9 billion expected for Halloween candy in 2025.
新闻简报：巧克力的万圣节主导地位受威胁
总结
由于通货膨胀、关税和全球可可短缺导致巧克力价格飙升，2024年万圣节将面临重大转变，消费者转向更便宜的非巧克力糖果。糖果制造商正在通过新产品和策略进行适应。
关键点
- 价格飙升：自去年万圣节以来，巧克力价格上涨了近30%，过去五年上涨了78%。
- 市场转变：巧克力在万圣节糖果销售中的份额从52%下降到44%，购物者更倾向于软糖和酸味糖果。
- 供应危机：西非（全球70%可可的产地）收成不佳，导致全球可可出现60年来最大的供应短缺。
- 行业回应：好时和亿滋等公司正在扩展软糖产品线，推出更小的巧克力棒，并探索无可可选项以管理成本并吸引Z世代。
- 消费者影响：尽管价格更高，但整体糖果支出依然强劲，预计2025年万圣节糖果销售额将达到创纪录的39亿美元。
Original Article Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/31/chocolate-prices-halloween-tariffs-inflation-candy.html