HACKETTSTOWN, NJ -- Convenience-store retailers have three additional weeks to sell Easter candy and chocolate this year compared to last year. With Easter falling in mid-April in 2017, that can mean a 5% to 7% lift in sales over last year, according to data from Mars Chocolate North America.
With 62% of the population celebrating the spring holiday, and 71% of them purchasing chocolate, Mars is releasing a slew of new Easter products to appeal to candy snackers and decorators throughout the season.
The Easter decorating and snacking segment accounts for 46% of dollar sales for the season, according to Nielsen data, with medium-sized bags accounting for almost all of those sales. Extra-large bags saw the fastest growth.
The M&M's White Chocolate Candies in an 8-ounce laydown bag have a suggested retail price of $3.49. M&M's candies are the most purchased brand for Easter baskets, candy bowls and egg huts, and the second most purchased for gifting, according to data from the Beacon Report.
Click through to see more new Easter releases from Mars Chocolate North America ...
The new Dove Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs are filled with creamy peanut butter and covered in Dove Milk Chocolate. This new item is available in a 1-ounce bag with an SRP of 79 cents.
This is the first time Mars has offered a Dove Chocolate Variety Bag for Easter. This stand-up pouch contains three varieties: Dove Milk Chocolate Eggs, Dove Dark Chocolate Eggs and new Dove Caramel & Milk Chocolate Flowers Promises. Each piece is individually wrapped in festive foil. The 22.6-ounce pouch has an SRP of $9.99.
These milk-chocolate candies are filled with creamy caramel and wrapped in festive foils. The 7.94-ounce bags have an SRP of $3.99.
These Easter point-of-purchase (POP) displays are easy to assemble, according to the company. The designs bring the look of Easter to stores and help provide inspiration and gift ideas for the season. The stand for different single-pack varieties comes with Snickers Eggs, M&M's Peanut Butter Eggs, Twix Eggs and Dove Peanut Butter Eggs, each with an SRP of 79 cents.
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