Buyers pick 88's best selling candies

Drug Store News, Feb 6, 1989

Buyers Pick 88's Best Selling Candies

Snickers, M & M's, Hershey's & Nestle bars were all hot this year. Imported chocolates did okay, and Tic Tac was "outstanding."

Many nonfood buyers are telling Fm that 1988 was a year for "nostalgia" in candy sales.

Most said they saw a trend to higher purchases of the already very popular leading domestic chocolate candy brands, and they attributed this to a possible desire on the part of stressed adults to want to return to a simpler time in their lives, a time when one of their greatest pleasures was eating a Mars bar or a Snickers or a Hershey bar.

"We're getting called on a lot for the major domestic brands in our stores," says Drug Emporium's Philadelphia VP Bob Lyons. "I think there is a nostalgia wave. Hershey's commercials are geared to that, and I think we're seeing more adults today deciding to stop and relax with a candy bar that they've known since childhood."

Sources who carry imported chocolates or who promote them also say that they are continuing to sell well. Most nonfood buyers single out Ferraro's Mon Cheri and Roche as top sellers, but several buyers also mentioned Tobler and Andes mints as strong sellers.

But according to most nonfood buyers, the country's leading domestic candies are absolutely the strongest sellers in their stores these days, fueled possibly by a yearning among adults to return, whenever possible, to some of the simplest pleasures of their childhood.

Every buyer that Fm talked to this year singled out M & M/Mars, Hershey's and Nestles, "the big three" as many called them, as making the brands that were selling the best this year.

One source said the "big three" together control about 60% of America's chocolate candy sales so "it's no wonder they sell so well."

In imported chocolates, almost everyone said Mon Cheri was "outstanding" whether in a promotional program or as an everyday item, and many buyers also liked Mon Cheri's sister brand, Roche chocolates.

Andes mints was named several times as a good item to promote and so was Tobler candies and Cella Cherries.

Every buyer said Tic Tac this past year has been "extremely strong" and several also reported good growth with Life Savers.

Brachs and Whitman's both got good reviews, and so did Pay Day.

In assessing the strengths of some of the newer items, several buyers singled out Hershey's Bar None as a "real success." Several also called Hershey's Whatchamacallit "delicious" and said it was also selling well in their stores. Many buyers also singled out Hershey's Golden Almonds, both boxed and in nuggets.

Pat Perritt, the candy buyer for Page Drug said Hershey's new Solitaire, was really picking up sales, and Life Saver's Fruit Juice flavors were doing real well. Perritt also said she liked M & M's newest item: Snack Masters.

Jim Plate at Perry's singled out Amurol's two newest gums: Bubbleez and Bubble Tape. Don Vogel, a confectionary broker based in Chicago, said the entire Amurol line did well last year, with sales up in excess of 250%.

Dinasaur shapes were especially hot last year. Many buyers said that "everything in a dinosaur shape from gummies to fruit snacks" did well.

In the northeast, a source for Boston-based Brierly & King confectionary brokers singled out the Harry London line of chocolate foil wrapped specialties as selling extremely well in nonfood stores. The line includes Kiss, Hot Lips, chocolate bottles of champagne, and chocolate blocks spelling out phrases such as "Love ya" or Mom or Dad.

Other sources also say that holiday specialty items like Rodda marshmallows, chickens and bunnies also do well, and at Valentine's Day, chocolate bears with hearts are very popular.

Several sources mentioned the Just Born line of candies: Mike & Ike, Hot Tamales and Jolly Joe's. The SourPatch Kids from Jarret Int. and the Sour Watermelon slices also got several favorable mentions.

Several buyers also said the Sophie Mae peanut brittle is selling very well, all year-round as well as seasonally, and Van Melle's soft, chewy Mentos is doing well.