Recession Candy: When the Going Gets Tough, Do You Buy More Sweets?
In these economic hard times we are experiencing, the New York Times reports that many consumers are turning to good old-fashioned candy to calm their nerves instead of Valium.
Many big candy makers are reporting rising sales and surprising profits even as manufacturers of other products are struggling to stay afloat. Cadbury reported a 30 percent rise in profits for 2008 while Nestle’s profits grew by 10.9 percent, according to public filings. Hershey, which struggled for much of 2008, saw profits jump by 8.5 percent in the fourth quarter.
According to the story, this surge in candy sales during hard times has a historic precedent. The Great Depression gave birth to many of the most popular candy bars of today: "Snickers started in 1930. Tootsie Pops appeared in 1931. Mars bars with almonds and Three Musketeers bars followed in 1932."
Which candy, if any, are you turning to in these troubled times? Me, I'm a complete sucker for malted milk balls when the Dow heads south.
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21 Comments:
dove chocolate eggs! I knew there was a reason for that craving, thanks Ed. ;-)
huneybumper at 8:41AM on 03/24/09
I've been indulging in Mounds bars lately...there's something about that combination of dark chocolate and coconut that transports me to a remote tropical island somewhere, even when I'm sitting at my desk on the 38th floor listening to the hum of the flourescent lights overhead.
This week is Teacher Appreciation week at my children's elementary school, and due to the economy, instead of purchasing expensive gift cards or restaurant gift certificates as we have in years past, the class Room Mothers got together and decided to do a big gift basket, with everyone contributing some candy -- popular requests for inclusion into the baskets have been the old stand-bys: Snickers, Milky Ways, M&M's!
juliebugsmama at 9:03AM on 03/24/09
I love Mounds, too. Much more satisfying than an almond joy, I think. It's the dark chocolate that totally works for me.
Ed Levine at 9:15AM on 03/24/09
whatever is on sale...
foodinmouth at 9:48AM on 03/24/09
I get in trouble at home, because I can't resist buying my wife a bit of chocolate when I go to the store. She complains, but I notice it always gets eaten.
Maltesers, Kit-Kats, Mars Planets, any type of biscuit dipped in chocolate, Sainsbury's brownie bites or chocolate and caramel biscuit bites, Lindor truffles, or a special treat from Hotel d'Chocolate (a local chocolate maker).
My kids have discovered M&Ms and Smarties (British M&Ms, not the sugar candy) and love them. They're both adopted, and I don't think they got much candy while being fostered. I think they like having little things they can hold. I try and mix them with peanuts or almonds to make it slightly healthier. But they're both at the age where you must run everywhere, so I guess they're burning off all the sugar.
NotAmerican at 10:01AM on 03/24/09
@NotAmerican my wife loves Maltesers. She mail orders them from the same place she gets her tea. Me, I need hobnobs.
bobbob at 10:12AM on 03/24/09
I also love Take 5's. The combo of pretzel, peanut butter, chocolate and caramel is, well, perfect.
juliebugsmama at 11:35AM on 03/24/09
No, I don't eat more candy but I bake more.... I've baked 3 kinds of brownies just this week. It's been stressful, what can I say? ;)
Karee at 12:09PM on 03/24/09
Musketeers minis, lately. Well, there was a coupon, so how could I resist? :D
I must say I love the Dark Milky Way bars though...mmmmm
hungryhungryhippo at 12:37PM on 03/24/09
Since I now have a global economic justification for indulging my sweet tooth, in the name taking positive steps to heal this great country, I will hereby empty my freezer of all my carefully packaged, recession-friendly soups and stews, and fill the sucker with Twix bars. Thanks, Gray Lady!
sixsonnets at 12:42PM on 03/24/09
I have a candy problem, so although I certainly buy a lot, it's no more than usual. Right now, I get the Cadbury Mini Eggs and Cadbury Creme Eggs. During the rest of the year, my favorites are Snickers, Starbursts, and Reese's. And M and Ms and Skittles. Like I said, it's kind of a problem.
emgroff at 1:09PM on 03/24/09
i'm with you on the mounds! it's about the only candy bar i go for, altho chunkys are good on occasion.
however, i'm in easter mode right now. i have a little box filled with what i think are called robin's eggs? they're dark chocolate with a thin candy coating...oh, and i'm anxiously awaiting my annual chocolate bunny from my mom!
gastronomeg at 1:35PM on 03/24/09
ive never heard of take 5's, we cant get them in the uk, but i now have a serious craving!! as for my current candy habits, not sure the economy has made much difference, im still a big fan of the snickers
Edwardkimuk at 1:39PM on 03/24/09
Ed-- I agree with you when it comes to the Mounds vs. Almond Joy because of the chocolate, but I just can't resist the nuts! I only wish they made Mounds with Almonds....Almond Mounds?
veggieout at 2:04PM on 03/24/09
Now 'n Laters, Tootsie Rolls, and Red Hots. However, my depression candy eating ripped out one of my fillings and I had to have a crown put on today. Be careful what you eat----it can end up very expensive!
jcrisco at 2:14PM on 03/24/09
My bf used to smoke, but now he uses chocolate instead. LOL It's a lot cheaper buying a couple hershey bars a week instead of a couple packs of cigarettes.
amandaonmaui at 2:27PM on 03/24/09
My favs are both both mounds and almond joy-love them equally--must be the coconut, also reeses pb cups. Maybe because we are approaching Easter, I've had a hankering for the Russell Stover milk chocolate chocolate marshamallow eggs and the R.S. dark chocolate covered marshmallow eggs....Also, the coconut covered marshmallow squares prominant on the shelves for Passover & OH! don't forget the Joyva chocolate covered raspberry gels...I am waiting for Schmidt's (mentioned in the other thread by some of us, NYers) to get crackin on their Easter chocolate...
Italiancupcake at 6:49PM on 03/24/09
I recently had the Trader Joe's version of Reese's Cups, and they pretty much rocked my world. I ate my one container of them WAY too fast, and now I can't stop thinking about them. I swear, they make every problem in the world go away.
And I'm with Karee too - I definitely bake more when the going gets tough. It's totally therapeutic, plus it's hard to stay stressed when your kitchen smells like warm chocolate, or fresh-baked bread, or apple pie...
kimberlymac at 7:57PM on 03/24/09
i definately have been eating more candy lately! and the cheap kind... walmart has packs of about 10 fun-size bars for $1. i mainly get almond joys and twix, but the almond joys just really seem to be taking the edge off my money woes.
redzerostar at 8:59PM on 03/24/09
I am indulging my annual Easter craving for Brach's Bunny Basket Eggs - the marshmallow inside/candy outside nuggets of goodness. i try to get the bags with the most whites and oranges and the fewest pinks.
For non-Easter candy my thing has been Chewy Atomic Fire Balls. Think super hot cinnamon jelly beans, For ultimate economic downturn sweets -there is the stash of extra dark Lindor truffles I took from the centerpieces at the end of a wedding reception I attended. The best things in life are free.
amethiste at 1:37AM on 03/25/09
I don't think I have actually been buying the candy just yet but I want to order dessert more when I'm at restaurants than I did in the past.
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 2:28PM on 03/25/09