Shoppers hunt for Halloween candy deals, local candy expert weighs in
GREENWOOD, Neb. (KLKN) – With Halloween just days away, the search for savings is very much active.
At Nebraska’s largest candy outlet, Baker’s Candies, one expert showed Channel 8 the ‘spooky-season’ sales.
“Historically, Halloween candy will discount as much as 50 or maybe even 60% as you lead right up to the holiday and immediately following,” said Todd Baker.
Baker is the CEO of Baker’s Candies and knows about sweet treats and sweet trends.
His father started the business in 1986, and now Todd runs it along with his brother.
Baker says Halloween and Easter are traditionally the two largest candy holidays by volume, but after COVID and historically high cocoa prices last year, customers gravitated towards value instead of gourmet style sweets, like chocolate.
“Because chocolate is about the most expensive ingredient you can put in Halloween candy,” said Baker.
He says cocoa prices have since dropped, but everybody is still looking for value.
“So you’re going to see a lot of candy in the Halloween pails that’s not chocolate,” said Baker.
Instead, he said you’ll see a variety of combos like chocolate covered marshmallows or peanuts or items without any chocolate at all.
At Baker’s, they have an entire selection of candies arranged by the decade it debuted.
“It runs all the way from the 1920s to the 1990s. Candy from your childhood, circus peanuts for instance, 1923,” said Baker.
And although the Baker family is partial to chocolate…
“I will tell you, if you’re looking for value, the best bang for your buck this year is going to be on the sugar side, where prices have stayed historically competitive and where we still see a lot of value,” said Baker.
He also adds that during Halloween, shoppers are usually buying candy for small kids and/or strangers, which is one of the reasons fun-sized items were created.
But when purchasing chocolate for mor intimate holidays like Christmas or Mother’s Day, people will spend a little extra on gourmet; something his workers are already preparing for.
