Survey shows parents embracing traditions around the sweet celebration of Easter

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Mar 21, 2016, 11:05 ET

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 80 percent of American parents will be "helping" the Easter Bunny this year by creating and sharing seasonal baskets with their children, according to a recent national survey by the National Confectioners Association. Ninety percent of those baskets will feature chocolate, candy, gum or mints.

On Easter morning, children will awaken to baskets filled with seasonal favorites like chocolate bunnies and eggs, marshmallow candies and jelly beans. According to survey findings, 91 percent of parents have a plan in place to talk to their children about balance and moderation when it comes to sweets and treats.

"Americans understand that candy is fun treat that can be enjoyed in moderation at Easter and throughout the year," said John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association. "As a father and grandfather myself, I can relate to families around the country who embrace the unique role candy plays in happy, family celebrations and I applaud the moms and dads who are using holidays as a chance to teach their children solid nutrition habits and the importance of moderation."

NCA projects that retail sales of Easter candy in 2016 will be nearly $2.4 billion (up 1.4 percent from 2015), a boost to the U.S. economy that helps support 55,000 manufacturing jobs. The strong sales period also supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in related industries – from companies who make silicone molds in which manufacturers craft the season's celebrated chocolate bunnies to the retail employees who place those chocolate bunnies on store shelves.

More than 80 percent of Americans believe that candy is a treat, and it's one that makes holidays even more special. Most people in the U.S. enjoy candy about twice per week, averaging less than 50 calories per day from confectionery items.

More than 100 million chocolate bunnies will be produced for Easter 2016, along with millions of chocolate eggs. NCA's new survey found that when it comes to those eggs, Americans prefer them filled with ingredients like chocolate ganache, peanut butter or caramel (52%) as compared to solid (32%) or hollow eggs (16%).

In addition to sharing Easter baskets, Americans have embraced dozens of other traditions to celebrate the Easter holiday from hunting for hard-boiled or plastic eggs filled with treats and surprises (71 percent of households with children) to dyeing and decorating eggs (79%). As many as 10 percent of households with children even set up and decorate an Easter tree.

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), Snapchat (CandyNCA), and Facebook (NationalConfectionersAssociation).

Survey Methodology
NCA's 2015/2016 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 representing the $35 billion U.S. confections industry. NCA and its members value the fun and enjoyment of chocolate, candy, gum and mints, serving as a transparent and trustworthy source while building and promoting a responsible industry. As the leading trade association for the industry, NCA is proud of the role it plays in the public's understanding and appreciation of candy's unique role in a happy, balanced lifestyle. For more information, visit www.CandyUSA.com.

SOURCE National Confectioners Association