Suppliers Make Halloween Green with Healthy Treats and More!

by Doug Desjardins

Halloween is the busiest time of the year for candy manufacturers - October alone accounts for 75% of all candy corn sales - and that's not going to change this year. But more suppliers than ever are tapping into a growing demand for healthier treats and eco-friendly Halloween products.

This isn't a popular trend with kids who just want a plastic bag, sugar and lots of it. So suppliers are targeting adults who want to trick kids into eating healthier treats and more of their products are showing up on store shelves. Ginger candy manufacturer The Ginger People is promoting its all-natural line of candies that are gluten and fructose free. The product line includes Original Ginger Chews, Peanut Ginger Chews and Gin Gins Hard Candy. "We are seeing an increase in 'smart' candy choices for kids. said Mark McCarthy of The Ginger People. "Our candies give a much-needed makeover to the often scary Halloween bag." halloween-candy

Spangler Candy, which manufactures the well-known Dum Dum Pops, makes candy that doesn't contain common allergens like gluten, nuts, dairy, eggs or shellfish. "Parents shouldn't have to worry that their children might eat something harmful," said Pat Hurley, quality assurance director for Spangler. "We want everyone to be able to enjoy Halloween and other special events."

A South African company called Caring Candies is launching its line of healthy candy in the U.S. in time for Halloween. The candies contain no sugar, glutens, fat or preservatives and are sweetened with Isomalt, a natural sugar derived from beets. The line includes lollipops, candy canes and hard candy. "Caring Candies could be the answer to candies for children and adults who are concerned about diets full of sugar and artificial sweeteners," said Caring Candies CEO Bianca Reithmueller.

Adding to the healthy mix is Yummy Earth, which is rolling out a new line of Yummy Earth Organic Gummy Bears and Gummy Worms in time for Halloween. The Gummy Bears and Worms are made with natural sweeteners and are fat and gluten-free.

Halloween products are also getting the green treatment. Noteworthy, the leading plastic Halloween bag manufacturer in the U.S., has produced a line of eco-friendly bags made of non-woven recycled material that are re-useable. The bags also come with safety reflectors and a list of tips for kids on safe trick-or-treating.

But all that healthy eating isn't going to bother the candy industry, which is expecting sales to increase 4% this year to $32 billion, according to the National Confectioners Association.

For Halloween, the average household will spend more than $20 on candy this year despite the trend toward healthier treats.