The map above illustrates the results of our latest candy research: the top 3 most popular Christmas candies in each state. Hover over your state (non-mobile only) to see the goods.
It may not seem like Christmas is all about candy, because obviously there is so much more to the holiday season. But there is also a lot of candy happening. Think about all the baking and decorating and making fun crafts with kids that happens in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Do you hang candy canes from your tree? Maybe you get candy bars in your stocking? Or decorate snowman cookies with sprinkles and peppermint candy? Ok well, a lot of people do, ya know. :) And it all adds up.
So which Christmas candy do people like the most? It varies by state.
Since we’re an online bulk candy store, we reached out to CandyStore.com customers to find that out. We got over 16,000 responses this year. We also checked in with our friendly major candy manufacturers and distributors to be sure our survey corresponded with their seasonal observations.
You might be surprised by the results, illustrated above in the interactive candy map. Key takeaways, below, but first a look at the bigger picture.
Industry Pulse
To say people are eager for the Holidays to begin might be an understatement this year. The National Retail Federation says that nearly half (46%) of holiday shoppers will start their shopping before Halloween!
Fear of continued inflation might be driving some people to shop now. Over eighty percent said they expect prices to go up on gift items. Thirty percent said the best deals were already available in November. They are getting started early and spreading out their spending.
Still the NRF predicts that holiday spending will increase by 6-8% this year, up to $960B. Not too shabby.
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And now on to the results of our interactive map. Here are a few interesting insights we can gather.
Peppermint Bark Cooldown
Last year peppermint bark went bonkers and picked up 3 new #1 spots. It seems it might have over saturated the market. This year, it lost 6 number one spots. Three more than it gained last year, and they are big ones.
California and Texas are the two largest states and they both cooled on peppermint bark this year. So peppermint bark is moving backwards. But you can never count it out. Don’t forget, we are not even taking into account the homemade bark made in your own kitchens.
Candy Canes Declining
Candy canes are falling in popularity as well. They lost four #1 spots this year, including New York, where they were replaced by Snickers and New Hampshire where M&M’s are now the top candy.
Candy canes are not the universally-loved Christmas candy you might think. They are often found on the WORST Christmas candy list, in fact. People who don’t like them cite reasons like they can be messy to eat, hard to unwrap in one whole piece and, once sucked on for a while, become sharp and dangerous.
But a lot of people still love them. Me included.
KitKat Bursts onto the Scence
Having never made a #1 showing, this year KitKat has 2 of them!
Massachusetts and Oklahoma both prefer KitKats at Christmas. Interestingly, both states had candy canes at #1 last year. So the candy cane trend is opening up opportunities for new holiday candies like KitKat to gain some love.
Starburst Rising
Starbursts don’t seem like a particularly traditional holiday candy, but who knows what those crazy kids are up to nowadays. Starburst picked up 2 number one spots this year in Nevada and Wisconsin. Peppermint bark took the L in both those states.
Which Christmas holiday candy does your state loves the most? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
State By State
Does the list above match with what you like or your loved ones would like to receive as a gift?
If you get the wrong thing, just remember that – really – the holiday season is about family and friends. It’s the thought that counts, the gesture that matters. Unless you give me reindeer corn, in which case we are no longer friends.
Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts!
For more info or press inquiries contact Ben at: ben@candystore.com
I realize these lists are just for fun but this story is beyond ridiculous. Pez as the #1 Christmas candy in ANY state? In what alternate universe? Ditto Jolly Rancher. Your methodology is flawed, to say the least. I ordered candy for a Chicago based drug store chain that sold a ton of candy at Christmastime for many years and Pez and Jolly Rancher were never a part of the Christmas mix of candy, save a few Pez sets that never sold until they hit the deep discount table after Christmas. Your results for Illinois are way off the mark. Candy canes, Kisses, cheap chocolate covered cherries, thin mints-we sold cases and cases of those and I still see huge stacks of them at Christmas time in Illinois stores. Jolly Rancher indeed!
I’m in Utah. I never knew raindeer corn was a thing until I read this. Eww! How funny and strange. I’ll take minty-choclolatey or nutty-chocolatey any day, but especially at Christmas!
I can honestly say I have never heard of reindeer corn and I have lived in Alabama all my life!
What about Jimmy crack corn? :)