ECRM data: Hershey runs the most ads

Trade show company tells which candy companies and which brands run the most ads

The Hershey Co. runs more ads than other candy company, and the Hershey bar has more ad support than any other candy — at least according to data just released by ECRM.

The trade show company released the research in anticipation of its upcoming Candy Planning: Everyday & Non-Seasonal event in New Orleans Sept. 15-18.

Specifically, the data showed that Hershey Co. has the most ad support of all the candy companies with 34.2 percent, followed by Mars Chocolate North America, with 20.1 percent, and then Nestle S.A. with 9.1 percent.

When it comes to candy brands, Hershey’s has the most ad support with 20.6 percent, followed by M&M’s, with 9 percent, and then private brands with 5.5 percent.

The data also looked at specific retailers, detailing how many circular ads they were running. CVS lead the pack, followed by Walgreens and then Walmart-US.

And, the research broke down exactly which types of candy and snacks the retailers were advertising. Retailers advertised packaged chocolate the most, the candy had 27.5 percent of the ads. Next was packaged non-chocolate, with 18.7 percent of the ads, and that was followed by premium candy, which had 13.3 percent of ads.

ECRM hosts multiple trade show events throughout the year, including a variety of confectionery themed events. The shows are set up so that manufacturers and buyers attend a series brief, pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings in hotel and conference rooms throughout the show.

Crystal Lindell, Former editor-in-chief of Candy Industry Magazine. While here she has worked on Candy Industry Magazine, Food Engineering Magazine and Food Safety Strategies. She holds a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois – Springfield and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Illinois University. And her favorite breakfast is a cup of espresso and Twix bar.