Confectionery is more seasonally savvy lately, thanks in part to better/earlier visibility at retail, as well as maintained merchandising strength in all the major candy holidays — Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas. The numbers clearly prove it: 2006 seasonal sales showed growth in all four holiday segments for the first time in more than five years, according to the National Confectioners Association (NCA). Now, the 2007 holiday candy results are in, and the growth is once again positive.

Just how candy-happy were the holidays last year? Looking at dollar sales figures compiled by NCA, based on input from Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), NCA/CMA Monthly Shipment Reports and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Valentine’s Day candy sales for 2007 totaled $1.36 billion, showing a whopping growth of nearly 7%; Easter candy sales for 2007 totaled nearly $2 billion, displaying growth of 5.5%; Halloween candy sales for 2007 totaled $2.2 billion, for a growth of 2.6%; and Christmas candy sales for 2007 rang in at over $1.4 billion, showing the most modest sales gains (but still better than the most modest gain for the previous year) of 2.2%.

The greatest innovations in category introductions are not new to candy, but they’re new to seasonal confections. Premium and portion-controlled stock-keeping-units (SKUs) are the two most popular lately; sometimes they’re even offered together in the same item. The “newness” is that seasonal candy is becoming more like everyday candy, mimicking everyday diet and indulgence trends to capture more growth. The market is learning that consumers will often buy more of the same candy they love when it’s packaged for a season or holiday.

This year, the savviest stores put up a small portion of Valentine’s Day candy SKUs the week of Christmas, when traffic was high, letting customers know there would be a seasonal reason to come back the next week. What’s more, it provided new year impulse candy sales for customers returning gifts the week after Christmas. It’s no longer a laughing matter to see seasonal candy put out early. Many customers now say it puts them in a good mood.

Seasonal candy comes complete with seasonally appropriate colors and mood-enhancers, so it doesn’t take much effort for retailers today to build words (shelf talkers, counter cards) and a theme that will have shoppers adding on sales. Cross-merchandising opportunities really abound now, with premium and portion-controlled candy that’s clearly targeted at adults. These shoppers may go to the club stores for bags of Halloween candy for trick-or-treat, but they will be tantalized by seasonal candy outposts just for them at the deli or checkout, near produce or atop a bakery display. This has the ability to capture impulse candy sales from adults like never before.

For 2008, NCA predicts an overall growth of 2.1%, expecting all major holidays to grow, with the exception of Easter, which came early this year. Historically, this has been an indicator of a sales decrease, but there simply weren’t enough days for consumers to buy Easter candy as in 2007. However, marketers are drumming up ways to make up for spring.

Kids’ Novelty Non-Chocolate Candy*

*Derived from sales of the four major candy holidays: Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas

Source: National Confectioners Association (NCA), based on input from Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), NCA/CMA Monthly Shipment Reports and the U.S. Department of Commerce