Survey Says… Americans Celebrating Easter with Chocolate

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Mar 29, 2017, 11:33 ET

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Roughly 90 percent of Easter baskets will include chocolate or candy, according to a national survey by the National Confectioners Association.

"Americans enjoy having chocolate and candy to help make celebrations like Easter even more fun and special," said John Downs, president & CEO of the National Confectioners Association. "Consumers understand the unique role that chocolate and candy can play in a happy, balanced lifestyle. Most people in the U.S. enjoy candy 2-3 times per week, averaging about 40 calories per day."

Among the survey's findings:

Easter baskets are best accompanied with chocolate and candy
Nearly 90 percent of parents who celebrate with Easter baskets will help the Easter Bunny stock them with candy or chocolate. Seventy-nine percent said their baskets will also include non-edible items such as crayons, stuffed animals and books.

Easter is one of the most popular times of the year to share chocolate and candy
Seventy-five percent of Americans have shared chocolate or candy with friends and family at Easter.

Americans prefer their chocolate eggs to be filled
When given the choice, 52 percent of Americans believe that chocolate eggs are best filled with cream, caramel or other treats. Thirty-two percent of Americans want their chocolate eggs to be solid, while 16 percent are fine with a hollow chocolate egg.

Parents have a plan when it comes to talking about balance
According to survey findings, 91 percent of parents have a plan in place to talk to their children about balance when it comes to sweets and treats.

Decorating eggs and egg hunts are also popular ways to celebrate
Among parents, 79 percent say they plan to decorate eggs and 71 percent plan to attend an Easter Egg Hunt as part of their Easter celebrations.

Candy companies enjoy helping Americans celebrate Easter by creating unique Easter-themed confections. More than 55,000 Americans work in the confectionery industry in more than 1,000 manufacturing facilities across all 50 states. In addition, upwards of 400,000 jobs in agriculture, transportation, and retail are supported by the candy industry.

For more sweet information on the companies that make chocolate, candy, gum and mints, and how these treats fit into family and holiday traditions, visit CandyUSA.com and follow NCA on Twitter (@CandyUSA), Instagram (@CandyUSA), Facebook (National Confectioners Association), and Snapchat (@CandyNCA).

Survey Methodology
NCA's Seasonal Survey was conducted by 210 Analytics, LLC using a database comprised of several million respondents who have agreed to participate in survey research. Interviews took place using a self-administered, online questionnaire. To maintain the reliability and integrity in the sample, each invitation contained a password that is uniquely assigned to that email address and must be entered at the beginning of the survey. Web-assisted interviewing software is used to control quotas in order to mirror the census profile in terms of key demographics such as age, income, region and other factors. The survey was completed by 1,630 individuals in August 2015. The margin of error is +/-2.43%.

The National Confectioners Association is the trade organization that advances, protects and promotes chocolate, candy, gum and mints, and the companies that make these special treats. As the leading association for the $35 billion U.S. confectionery industry, NCA educates the public to help ensure that it understands and appreciates the unique role that chocolate and candy can play in a happy, balanced lifestyle. Confections are produced in all 50 states, creating jobs for approximately 55,000 workers in more than 1,000 manufacturing facilities across the country. More than 400,000 jobs in agriculture, retail, transportation and other industries rely in part on the sale of confections for their livelihood. For every one job that is created by confectionery companies, another seven are supported in related industries. Learn more about the "Power of Sweet" at CandyUSA.com, or follow NCA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SOURCE National Confectioners Association