Historians are unsure precisely where and when the phrase “trick or treat” was coined, but one thing is for sure, it started in the U.S. and by 1951 it was firmly established in American popular culture. This was the year trick-or-treating was depicted in the Peanuts comic strip. A year later, Walt Disney produced a cartoon featuring Donald Duck taking his nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie on the door-to-door adventure.
Well, it’s that time of year again when ghosts and goblins ring their neighbors’ doorbells and pose the famous question. Treats are typically provided, and more often than not, it’s some form of chocolate.
According to data from Mars Inc., McLean, Va., the second-largest U.S. marketer of Halloween-themed chocolate candy, the Halloween chocolate category exceeded $1 billion in sales for the first time in 2013, an increase of 6.4 percent from the previous year. For Mars, its Snickers brand is the most-purchased brand for handing out on Oct. 31.
Hershey Co., Hershey, Pa., the undisputed leader in Halloween, has the highest household penetration during the Halloween season, according to spokesperson Brandy Woolford. The company has three of the top five brands during this ghoulish time. Hershey’s Chocolate Assortments is No. 1, Reese’s is second and Kit Kat is fifth.
New chocolate items this year include Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkin singles and Kit Kat Minis snack size. Non-chocolate new items include Jolly Rancher Crunch ‘N Chew Caramel Apple Candy, Hershey’s Candy Corn snack size bars and Twizzlers Caramel Apple Filled Twists.
Halloween-Themed Products