If you haven’t yet embraced Halloween in your store, this year is the time to do it. That’s because it is now the third biggest seasonal event behind Christmas and Easter and, according to Planet Retail, has enjoyed double-digit growth over the past three years.

Food manufacturers are obviously keen to cash in on this trend as it gives them an extra trading boost between the back-to-school period and Christmas. Halloween products are typically bought for one of two reasons: to eat at a Halloween party or to give out to anyone who comes trick or treating.

Confectionery is obviously vital and Mondelez has a limited edition of Maynards Sour Patch Kids called Heads & Bodies, which features ’spooktacular’ colour and flavour combinations.

Cakes are big business at Halloween too with Nielsen data stating that sales have grown by 19% in the past two years. There are plenty available to stock including McVitie’s screamin’ sours, Jaffa Cakes spooky cake bars and lemon & slime cake bars, all of which benefit from a new pack design this year. And new to the range is the McVitie’s Tate & Lyle bonfire toffee cake which joins the Tate & Lyle sticky toffee cake. Meanwhile Premier Foods has new Mr Kipling toffee terror whirls, which join lines such as Mr Kipling shock & orange slices and fiendish fancies.

For those who fancy something more savoury, Bel UK has launched limited-edition packaging across its core lines: original six- and 12-packs, light six- and 12-packs and Cheddar sixes. From KP Snacks, there is a multipack of 20 x 10g packs of Hula Hoops for trick or treaters.

Finally, to wash it all down, there are limited-edition Halloween-themed packs of Fanta (2ltr bottles and can multipacks) which feature ghostly jokes, gruesome recipes and games.