The $4.8 billion travel retail market for sweets and snacks is projected to reach $7.7 billion by 2030, and confectionary and snacking brands are viewing this channel as an opportunity for incremental growth and brand visibility. Mondelez International's "Destination: Value" framework focuses on traveler-centric innovation, exclusive packaging and personalized experiences to drive engagement and create emotional connections, using behavioral insights and digital integration to design immersive retail environments with a focus on Generation Z and millennial travelers.

Mondelez is making Halloween special for trick-or-treaters by giving out 20,000 bags of candy to select homes which will then be marked with a 15-foot inflatable Sour Patch Kid so trick-or-treaters know where to find the goods. "The sweet part is that the Very Big Kid is out there," says Edgard Gianesi, chief creative officer of DAVID Miami, the firm behind the campaign. "The sour part is that we're not telling where!"

PepsiCo is experiencing rapid growth in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations, fueled by significant social changes, a youthful and digitally connected demographic and the expansion of leisure activities. PepsiCo is expanding its zero- and low-sugar beverage lines in response to government initiatives promoting healthier lifestyles, Gatorade is growing quickly in the Gulf, partly driven by PepsiCo's expanding sports partnerships, including with UEFA Champions League and Formula One, and collaborations with entertainment venues such as Six Flags in Riyadh help PepsiCo expand through newly emerging leisure channels.

Cargill projects Halloween chocolate sales to surpass $3.3 billion this year, up from $2.9 billion in 2024, with more than 370 million pounds consumed. The forecast highlights trends such as emotional connections to chocolate, a desire for novelty and the popularity of snack-size formats. Seasonal occasions now make up 24% of total U.S. chocolate sales, with Halloween standing out as a leading sales period. Despite inflationary pressures, consumers continue to prioritize chocolate purchases during the holiday, driving both repeat buying of favorites and experimentation with new flavors and packaging.

Candy makers such as Mondelez International and Hershey anticipate relief from high cocoa prices in 2026 as cocoa futures have dropped significantly this year due to improved weather conditions in West Africa and Ecuador. The International Cocoa Organization projects a shift from a deficit to a surplus in cocoa supply, potentially easing some consumer costs by next Halloween if no unexpected weather or crop disease issues arise.

The latest trade deals with Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam mark real progress for the CPG industry, and also for consumers. We were especially encouraged to see cocoa products added to Malaysia and Cambodia's unavailable natural resources lists -- a recognition that some critical ingredients simply can't be made, grown or sourced in the United States due to climate or geography. With candy prices up 78% since 2019 and cocoa costs more than doubling in the past year, the timing couldn't be better. As Americans spend an estimated $13 billion on Halloween treats, acknowledging cocoa's importance is both timely and smart trade policy. One country at a time, these agreements are supporting American manufacturing while ensuring safe, affordable, accessible products all year long. Read more.

Safety is the consumer packaged good industry's top priority, full stop. When there's even a hint of risk, brands act fast to pull products from shelves. But that raises a crucial question: what's the fastest, most effective way to alert consumers -- and how can we make the recall process even better? Industry-driven tools like SmartLabel are already helping brands share recall information more efficiently, enabling quicker consumer action when every moment counts. Still, no single solution can reach every consumer. What's needed is a consistent, cross-channel framework that supports real-time communication, ensuring people get the information they need, when they need it. Rishi Banerjee, Senior Director of SmartLabel by Consumer Brands Association, shares more of his perspective here.