Double-digit confectionery growth kicks off U.S. Halloween selling season

In U.S. market, Halloween candy sales are off to a strong start with chocolate Halloween candy running 14% ahead for the four-week period and non-chocolate up 3% according to IRI sales reports ending September 10. In the non-chocolate sector, chewy candy and mints are running well ahead of last year. For the fifty-two week period, IRI reports dollar sales of confectionery products increased in nearly all of the large trade channels from 2005 sales figures.