Hershey CEO Warns of Candy Shortage This Halloween

There may be a shortage of Halloween candy this year, warns Hershey CEO Michele Buck.

According to reports, Buck admitted that Hershey “will not be able to fully meet consumer demand” this Halloween as consumers are looking for more regular and Halloween-themed candy that the company can currently produce. The ongoing supply chain issues have affected Hershey’s production; the demand for sweet treats rose during the pandemic and have not died down since, while the public’s interest in Halloween continues to grow.

Hershey experienced double-digit sales growth during the second quarter of the year in comparison to last year, however, as the company utilizes the same manufacturing lines for its regular and seasonal products, it is unable to increase production for both — it can only focus on either one.

In addition to the supply chain problems, Hershey is suffering from rising dairy prices and the scarcity of ingredients, forcing the company to get the items from other suppliers at a more expensive rate.

“We had a strategy of prioritizing everyday on-shelf availability,” Buck said during an analyst call. “That was a choice that we needed to make,” she continued. “It was a tough decision.”

Elsewhere in food and beverage, Sprite is phasing out its signature green bottles.