Kroger and Stop & Shop Expand Halloween Candy Offerings

Halloween has expanded beyond a single night, and grocery chains are stocking up accordingly. Kroger expects to move 25 million pounds of Halloween candy this year, while Stop & Shop is adding seasonal exclusives to its candy displays.

Kroger Bets Big on Extended Halloween Sales

Kroger’s projections include millions of pounds of chocolate and 9 million bags of fun-sized treats. Laid end to end, those bags would span roughly 1,400 miles, from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Salt Lake City, Utah. “Halloween is one of the most fun times of year for families and communities, and candy plays an important role,” said Mike Murphy, group VP for center store and merchandising at the Cincinnati-based chain.

“We want every customer to find what they are looking for, whether it’s a full candy bowl for neighborhood kids, the perfect treat for a classroom party or a seasonal favorite.”

Kroger’s internal data supports the extended timeline. 57 percent of U.S. adults celebrate Halloween for a full season instead of just one day, and 84 percent plan to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters; of those, 73 percent choose mini or fun-size treats. More than one-quarter of shoppers purchased Halloween treats before October.

Among candy corn eaters, 60 percent eat it in a single bite, 28 percent start with the white end, and 12 percent begin with the yellow end.

Read Also: Vallarta Supermarkets Opens First Store in Duarte, California

Stop & Shop Adds Collectibles and Seasonal Favorites

Stop & Shop is launching a Marty the Robot Boo Bucket, a $2.99 collectible modeled after its in-store robot. The container holds approximately 500 pieces of candy and will be available throughout the season while supplies last.

The chain is also bringing back Mocha Chip Muffins for a limited time, priced at $3.99 for a four-pack. “At Stop & Shop, we love hearing from our customers, and when they told us how much they missed our Mocha Chip Muffins, we listened,” said Roger Wheeler, president of Stop & Shop. “This is just one of the exciting new offerings and changes we’re making as we continue to put the customer first and deliver on our commitment to providing great value, especially for important seasonal moments.”

For trick-or-treat night dinners, Stop & Shop is offering a 16-inch Thin Crust Take & Bake Pizza for $6.99 from Oct. 23 through Nov. 5. Varieties include Five Cheese and Double Pepperoni. The candy selection features new items like Hershey’s Cookies & Cream Fangs, Kit Kat Ghost Toast, and Twix Skulls, alongside Brach’s candy corn.

Stop & Shop, an Ahold Delhaize USA company, operates more than 350 stores across Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey.