Hershey calms Halloween nerves after shortage of treats scare

The company’s clarification came just days after many news outlets, including this publication​, reported the confectionery giant would fall short of meeting the demand for trick-or-treating.

“We continue to see struggles across the supply chain​,” Hershey chief executive Michele Buck told analysts and media during an earnings call last month, when increases in second-quarter sales and profits were announced.

Buck told investors that “early on​, it was some of the basic logistics issues largely driven by labour,”​ while currently scarcity of ingredients, higher costs and the geopolitical environment have “put certain strains on the business​.”

Halloween accounts for approximately 10% of Hershey’s annual sales, and Hershey’s PR department was quick to allay fears of any shortages.

Hershey said its Halloween candy is made on the same equipment as its regular inventory and was simply prioritising keeping retail stores full.

“We actually anticipate high single-digit growth for our Halloween and holiday seasons and will have even more seasonal product available to the consumer this year than last year​,” Allison Kleinfelter, senior director of Hershey corporate communications, said in a statement to the media.

Candy is a global business, and Hershey said it decided in the spring - when it typically begins making Halloween products - “to focus on everyday products to improve on-shelf availability in both US and Canada.​

"This strategic decision was made due to every day and seasonal production occurring on the same lines and having to balance our every day and seasonal portfolios,”​ a spokesperson said.