Impulse purchases help drive sales of candy and other snacks during the winter holidays, according to the SnackTrack Holidays Christmas Profile, released last week by NPD Group, Port Washington, N.Y. The survey, which polled 4,906 adults about their snack-shopping plans and their purchases during the holiday season of last year, found that 50% of adults buy candy for some holiday purpose — whether as a gift, for at-home entertaining or for themselves and their family to eat. When it comes to the type of candy consumed, 51% of candy eaters consume seasonal/holiday chocolate candy. Candy canes are next, followed by snack-size chocolate candy bars, gift box chocolates and then seasonal/holiday non-chocolate candy. Impulse is the premier driver for 15% of candy/treat purchases. Women were more likely to buy on impulse than men, and also shopped the store differently — women gravitated to the seasonal section for candy shopping while men favored the regular candy section.
