Friday, March 29, 2013

Easter Indulgence


Easter is, not surprisingly, the second biggest holiday in terms of sales volume of candy. 77 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christian, and an even larger 88 percent of parents make Easter baskets for their children, as 9 out of 10 people who celebrate the holiday purchase candy. 

The Easter-candy association is a relatively new one, in comparison to the age of the holiday.  It dates back to the 1800s, when European candy-makers first started making chocolate eggs for the occasion.  In the 1900s, industrialization allowed for manufacturers to mass-produce novelty candy.

In 1998, candy sales totaled $940 million.  In 2000, that amount skyrocketed to $1.9 billion.  In 2012, the number was slightly higher at $2.1 billion.

It is estimated that the average American celebrating Easter spends $145.13.  A whopping 180 million eggs were purchased for dying and decorating in 2012, and an estimated $17.2 billion are estimated will be spent in the United States on Easter in 2013.

2012 was declared to be the best financial year for the always-popular Peeps brand.  Over 700 million candies were sold in 2012, making them the most popular non-chocolate holiday candy.  Owned by Just Born Inc., 2 million Peeps are made everyday, each batch taking only seven minutes to make.  The brand has expanded into other holidays, making festive Valentine’s Day and Halloween shapes, along with their bright pastel sugarcoated marshmallow bunnies and chicks.

Another holiday staple, 90 million chocolate bunnies are produced every year.  Americans down 16 billion jelly beans too during the spring Easter season, enough to either circle the Earth three times if lined side-by-side or to fill a nine-story office building.  And who could forget the Cadbury Crème Egg—300 million of Cadbury’s 12 varieties will be produced this year.

Emily Spanyer

http://www.examiner.com/article/peeps-celebrates-easter-with-news-of-most-profitable-sales-year-yet
http://www.forbes.com/sites/nadiaarumugam/2013/03/27/jelly-beans-which-color-is-most-popular-at-easter-why-we-love-colored-foods/

No comments:

Post a Comment