New “spooky season” treats

Swizzels Matlow is gearing up for a sell out Halloween season and is hoping to top last year’s sales.

The sweet company has seen continued growth in Halloween sales as more families dress up, host a party and celebrate the spooky season.

Research conducted by the company (Dipsticks Research, conducted with 517 respondents, in November 2012) revealed that 76% of Halloween sweet shoppers offered sweets to Trick or Treaters and 58% of parents dressed their children up in fancy dress.

Last year’s Halloween confectionery sales were worth £57 million (Nielsen unit sales, five weeks ending 3.11.2012) and the scary season grew by 4.8% in 2012.

Sales of hanging bags including Bumper Bag, Lots of Lollies and Chew Crew, grew by 18.9% year-on- year. Swizzels Matlow’s unit sales grew by 9% year on year in the five weeks leading up to last year’s Halloween season (Nielsen Value Sales Total Coverage, five weeks).

This year’s new ghoulish party delight is Trick or Sweet, which includes a selection of Double Lollies, New Refresher bars, Parma Violets, Love Hearts, Fruity Pops, Fizzers and Drumstick Lollies.

Swizzels Matlow’s other frightening fancies are Trick or Treat Lolly Mix, which includes Double Lollies, orange and black Drumstick lollies and Fruity Pops. The new tub of Party Mix is perfect to share over the spooky season and is stocked full of Swizzels Matlow favourites.

Sarah-Louise Heslop, marketing manager at Swizzels Matlow, said: “Halloween is an important occasion for driving incremental sales for us. The spooky season is increasingly becoming one of the largest celebratory events of the year and confectionery sales are now worth £57 million (ending 3.11.12 2012 v 2011).”

“This year we’re hoping our range of spooky sweets will drive even more sales. Our new Trick or Sweet bag is adorned with creepy packaging – perfect for hungry trick or treaters and Halloween parties.”