Halloween’s $3 Billion Candy Stash

Am I the only one who keeps Pinterest-searching “spooky food?” I’m surprisingly impressed by so many recipes: pink brain topped cupcakes, meatloaf monsters, spaghetti as bloody intestines, mozzarella balls melted into skulls, mummified jalapeno pepper poppers, pot pies with gaping mouths carved out of dough. I loved the idea for berry-stuffed lychees, dropped into a glass of something red and transformed into eyeballs.

These homemade recipes are whimsical and fun. They don’t take themselves too seriously, and that’s probably what I respond to most. The world of food brands is tense right now, and many companies are struggling. Some startups are agreeing to bad deal terms as they search for funding, while many young companies are considering folding. These pressures come as grocers prioritize the big brands, which can afford the high fees required to maintain on store shelves. The dynamic impacts most food sold. That includes in the candy aisle, where shelves are now overflowing in anticipation of Halloween. Big candy companies are trick-or-treating, too: More than $3 billion worth of candy is purchased every year.