Fun Friday: Planters searches for Peanutters, Mod Pizza charity campaign, Christmas snacking trends
Most advent calendar purchasers are rule followers, enjoying one treat per day.
Planters goes on a nutty search
Hormel Foods' Planters brand is officially launching the search for three full-time Peanutters to drive and manage the 26-foot-long NUTmobile for the 2026 class (June 2026–June 2027 term). Peanutters drive coast-to-coast in the iconic NUTmobile, bringing the brand to life at festivals, parades, college campuses, community events and more; last year’s class traveled to 46 states and met more than 160,000 Americans on their journey. This full-time, paid position includes a comprehensive benefits package (full health coverage, travel, and meal stipends), and you must be a college graduate with an appetite for adventure to apply. Interested applicants can visit BeAPeanutter.com until Feb. 14, 2026.
Mod Pizza hosts holiday promotions
Courtesy of Mod Pizza
Mod is closing out the year with a campaign that captures the brand’s dual focus on purpose and people, rewarding guests while driving local impact nationwide. From now through Jan. 10, “Together for the Holidays” blends community giving with family-friendly value offers designed to spark connection and generosity throughout the season. Highlights include a nationwide partnership with One Warm Coat, with each Mod location hosting a local coat drive benefiting nearby nonprofits; the return of Kids Eat Free Sundays, through Jan. 25; a holiday gift card promotion offering a free Mod-size pizza or salad and a 16-oz Coca-Cola fountain drink for every $30 loaded; and an LTO Chocolate Peppermint Cookie to round out the season’s menu.
Instacart reveals Christmas purchasing trends
Photo: Nicole Michalou/Pexels
Christmas may have been yesterday, but the data is still worth checking out. Instacart has debuted new data revealing how Americans are celebrating the season through food. Based on 2024 purchase trends, the ‘Tis the Season: What’s Cooking this Christmas report showcases the festive ingredients and dishes filling carts across the country. Key insights include fruitcake orders jumping 986% in the final days before Christmas, making it one of the most polarizing yet persistent holiday desserts, and other sweets close behind: gingerbread cookies (+790%) and dried anise (+438%).
NCA showcases Treats & Trends data
Photo: Brigitte Tohm/PexelsThe National Confectioners Association (NCA) is ringing in the holiday season with treats and trends. Ninety-five percent of Americans plan to celebrate the winter holidays with chocolate and candy. Other interesting tidbits: 83% of Americans who purchase advent calendars are rule followers, enjoying one treat per day; mint sales are highest in December leading up to the winter holidays; the best candy for stocking stuffers, according to consumers, are foil-wrapped chocolates, small boxes of chocolates, and candy canes; and the top gingerbread house decorations include chocolate pieces, peppermints, gumdrops, and candy canes. See NCA's full infographic here.
Speaking of candy canes ...
Courtesy of Brach's
The famous striped treat has been an iconic part of the holiday season for centuries, so it comes as no surprise 90% of Americans agree candy canes are a tradition. Producing more than 250 million candy canes in 2024 (that’s 6.9 million pounds), Ferrara's Brach's leads the candy cane category, it says, and accounts for the majority (31%) of candy canes sold in the U.S. This year, the brand is revealing a list of the top 10 states that love the treat the most. According to sales data, Oklahoma is ranked No. 1 as the top mint candy cane-loving state in America, followed closely by Alabama and South Carolina. Find out if your state made the top 10 via the Brach's Candy Cane Map here.
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