Packaging Strategies logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Packaging Strategies logo
  • FEATURED
    • Brand Packaging
    • Extended Producer Responsibility
    • New Products & Materials
      • Featured Products
    • Packaging News
    • Packaging Perspectives Podcasts
    • Steve Fairfield Innovation Award
    • Supply Side
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Packaging Companies
      • Submit Your Company
  • FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
  • VERTICAL MARKETS
    • Beer / Wine / Spirits Packaging
    • Beverage Packaging
    • Candy / Confectionery
    • Dairy Food Packaging
    • FoodService Packaging
    • Household Packaging
    • Meat / Seafood Packaging
    • Personal Care Packaging
    • Pet Food Packaging
    • Pharma / Medical Packaging
    • Produce Packaging
    • Snack Food Packaging
  • MATERIALS
    • Adhesives / Sealants
    • Beverage Multipacks
    • Blister Packaging
    • Cans & Bottles
    • Closures/Lids
    • Films & Coatings
    • Labels
    • Material Converting
    • Paperboard / Corrugated / Cartons
    • Rigid Containers
    • Sustainable Packaging
  • MACHINERY
    • Automation / Controls
    • Case Forming / Packing / Sealing
    • Cartoning
    • Coding / Marking / Printing
    • Conveyors
    • Form-Fill-Seal / Filling & Closing
    • Inspection / Detection / Vision
    • Labeling
    • Unitizing / Palletizing
    • Robotics
    • Track & Trace / Serialization
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Packaging Strategies Resource Guide
    • Flexible Packaging Buyer's Guide
  • EVENTS
    • Converters Expo
    • Converters Expo South
    • Global Pouch Forum
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
  • MORE
    • Videos
    • Book Store
    • Classifieds
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • eXTRA Newsletter
    • Market Research
    • PACKSTRAT Wordplay
    • PS Resource Guide
    • Sponsor Insights
  • EMAG
    • eMagazines
    • Archived Issues
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Packaging News

During the Christmas season, candy is the top snack purchased

December 3, 2012

Visions of sugar plums and all other types of candies are dancing in the heads of not only children but adults too during the winter holiday season, according to a holiday snacking report by The NPD Group (www.npd.com), a global information and advisory services company. The report finds that 50% of adults, out of a sample of 4,906 adults celebrating Christmas, purchase candy for the holidays and 54% of these sweet-snacking adults intend to eat it or their family to eat it.

Overall, candy ranks number one as the top snack item purchased for the holidays, according to NPD’s SnackTrack® Holidays Christmas Profile, which looks at consumers’ activities, purchase behavior, and attitudes surrounding Christmas. Next, in rank order, are chips, purchased by 38% of adults; fresh fruit, purchased by 36% of adults; and crackers and nuts, each purchased by 31% of adults.

In addition to eating it themselves, 44% of adults bought candy for gifting, and the remaining candy purchasers use it for holiday entertaining and other activities. When it comes to the type of candy consumed, 51% of candy eaters consume seasonal/holiday chocolate candy. Candy canes are a next favorite followed, in rank order, by snack-size chocolate candy bars, gift box chocolates, and then seasonal/holiday non-chocolate candy. 

Candy shoppers break the traditional rule of shopping from lists during the holiday season, according to the NPD Christmas snacking report.  Impulse is identified as the premier driver for 15% of candy/treat purchases and impulse candy shopping happens everywhere. Women and men vary where they shop in the store for candy. Women gravitated to the seasonal section for candy shopping whereas men favored the regular candy section.

 “Whether its stockings stuffed with chocolates or candy canes dangling from the Christmas tree, candy is a top holiday food tradition,” says Darren Seifer, food and beverage industry analyst. “The winter holiday period offers manufacturers and retailers incredible potential for growth, and an opportunity to differentiate brands and drive additional sales by understanding consumers’ attitudes and behaviors related candy.”  

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Golden award trophy in the shape of a star. Text: 2026 Top 100 Food and Beverage Companies

    Top 100 Food and Beverage Packaging Companies of 2026

    Celebrating 30 years as a B2B journalist, I’ve revisited...
    Materials
    By: Brad Addington
  • Women In Packaging 2025 homepage hero

    Women in Packaging: Seizing Opportunities, Pushing Boundaries

    Seven women share their personal journeys in the...
    Special Reports
    By: Brad Addington
  • Image of the Spyder Pick and Place Joint Robot sorting pre-rolls.

    Cannabis Packaging Goes High-Tech

    Packaging Strategies doesn't often cover cannabis...
    Automation/Controls
    By: Brad Addington
Subscription Center
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Online Registration

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Packaging Strategies audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Packaging Strategies or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Hand Holding Various Semaglutide and Insulin Injection Pens for different stages of the treatment.
    Sponsored byInline Plastics

    How GLP-1 Is Reshaping Food Packaging, and Why It Matters More Than You Think

  • A stack of clear plastic containers, the bottom full of mixed fruit
    Sponsored byInline Plastics

    Packaging Trends Shaping 2026: Where Trust Is Won

Popular Stories

Podcast | Packaging EPR’s 2026 Reality Check” with guest Anna Kendall headshot and title. Also pictured Cardboard boxes on conveyor belt.

PODCAST | Packaging EPR’s 2026 Reality Check

Logo for New Earth Ventures

Atlantic Packaging Launches New Earth Ventures to Accelerate Packaging Technology

Main image for podcast with Kevin Kelly regarding Flexible Packaging for Produce. Main image includes Kevin Kelly’s headshot and an image of potatoes in a bag incorporating 30% PCR content.

Looking Forward to Global Pouch Forum

See the Top 100 Food and Beverage Packaging Companies of 2026

Products

Advances in Sustainable Food Packaging Technology

Advances in Sustainable Food Packaging Technology

See More Products

Packaging Perspectives Podcast

Play Packaging Strategies' captivating WordPlay game, PackStrat! There's a new word every Tuesday.

Related Articles

  • FTA Sees Solid Growth During the First Half of 2014; Welcomes 170 New Companies

    See More
  • MonoSol Packs Hygiene Kits During Clean the World Pack-a-Thon

    See More
  • FTA’s INFOFLEX 2022 Is the Flexographic Industry’s First Exhibition of the Year

    See More
×

Keep the info flowing with our Newsletters!

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing