What's the Most Popular Valentine's Day Gift?
By Abbey Lewis on Feb. 02, 2017WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Most U.S. consumers agree: Skip the diamonds. It's chocolate they want for Valentine's Day.
"Candy plays an important role in helping people celebrate special occasions like Valentine's Day and is enjoyed as a treat year-round," said John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association (NCA).
Though more than 40% of consumers enjoy their chocolate in a heart-shaped box, according to a national survey by the NCA, 94% of U.S. consumers will take it any way they can get it.
Click through to see some additional Valentine's candy data, as well as some c-store-friendly examples of ways you can help your customers celebrate their sweeties on Feb. 14 ...
Hershey’s Valentine’s Day rollouts
An estimated 70% of U.S. consumers will give the gift of chocolate or candy for Valentine's Day, according to the NCA survey data. They will share it with one to three loved ones.
For Valentine’s Day, Hersey’s is rolling out Kit Kat Red Velvet Miniatures and Reese’s Peanut Butter Hearts. Kit Kat Red Velvet Miniatures come in 10-ounce bags, with individually wrapped pieces in seasonal packaging. Reese’s Peanut Butter Hearts contain two 8-ounce heart-shaped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Everlasting Gobstopper Heartbreakers
Ninety-four percent of U.S. consumers want to receive chocolate or candy for Valentine's Day. That's more than any other traditional gift associated with the holiday.
This sweet take on Nestle's Everlasting Gobstopper product comes in shareable 12-ounce bags.
M&M's Cupid's Messages
Forty-three percent of U.S. consumers say they plan to buy themseves a box of chocolate to celebrate Valentine's Day, according to the NCA survey.
New products available this year from Mars for the holiday include items from M&M’s, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers and Dove Chocolate, appropriate for consumers seeking chocolate for gifting, exchanges, decorating, snacking and baking, the company says.
R.M. Palmer Snap & Share Heart
Of the 43% of consumers that purchase Valentine's chocolates for themselves, women (47%) are more likely to treat themselves than men (42%), and millennials younger than 30 (55%) will buy for themselves more than any other age group, the NCA survey found.
The Snap & Share Heart from R.M. Palmer is a 2.5-ounce chocolate heart made with smooth chocolate that snaps apart into six separate pieces for sharing.