Choosing a favorite of anything is no easy task…but choosing a favorite Halloween candy? That seems impossible! Clair Robins, spokesperson at www.candystore.com, worked with a market research firm to determine the best and worst candy consumers will purchase for this ever-popular holiday.
“The National Retail Federation estimates that shoppers will spend $2.7 billion on Halloween candy this year. We wanted to provide quality data,” she said.
Robins added, “It took some time. We contacted targeted customers and other candy consumers over the course of 7 months. We wanted to hit that 40,000 number.”
Once the data was collected, she said it didn’t take long to see the trends. “Although the results have stayed largely the same across the country, we did see some changes. In New York, Sour Patch Kids are at the top, with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups closing the gap. Connecticut trick-or-treaters love Almond Joy, but Skittles is now the top choice. Hot Tamales are most popular with the Hoosiers, and in California, M&M’s outweigh jelly beans.”
What’s the least preferred candy? “There is a lot of hate for candy corn which is not surprising since we have had so many people tell us in very descriptive terms how much they don’t like it,” she said. “We also were surprised to learn that Necco Wafers are not a big hit either.”
For those children, and adults, with allergies, there are plenty of dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free and vegan options out there. There truly is something for everyone…it’s just a matter of personal taste.

Sue Tabakin