Design Easter Baskets That Truly Hop

Spring may not have sprung yet, but retailers are springing into action to market their Easter candy selection. And with good reason – the National Retail Federation reported that 89% of Americans’ planned Easter purchases were candy in 2021 – the highest of all categories. And where is that candy going you might ask? Simple — in Easter baskets. 66% of parents make their kids Easter baskets, with 60% of those parents even sending baskets to their kids who don’t live at home (Insider). In the age of social media, simply throwing things in a basket isn’t going to cut it. Get a jump (or hop) on the competition – educate customers on how to make their Easter basket presentation a slam dunk.

We polled our design egg-sperts for their top tips to take baskets from so-so to egg-ceptional!

• Level up with Different levels – Get their eyes jumping around like peter cotton tail — place items at different

Streaming services have changed how we consume movies— and movie theater snacks! Streaming is bringing the whole theater experience home, including the beloved concession munchies. Popcorn is still the star of the show, with market research firm Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) reporting the ready-to-eat popcorn/caramel corn category grew 8.7 percent, with total sales of $1.6 billion in the 52 weeks ending May 16, 2021 (Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery). Popcorn offers consumers a blank canvas to experiment with flavors. Time to roll out the red carpet and add some popcorn A-listers to your selection.

Let’s get poppin’ and get to the kernel of who the latest “it” popcorns are at the moment.

Love is in the air! Cupid’s packing his arrows and retailers are stocking their shelves to hit the mark this Valentine’s Day. Even with last year’s challenges, the National Retail Federation (NRF) reported Americans spent $21.8 billion on Valentine’s Day in 2021. While chocolate and candy might make up 54% of gift plans (NRF), competitor analysis company, Competitor Monitor reports “staying in” and “creating an experience” are emerging trends for Valentine’s gifts. Time to think outside the (chocolate) box with exceptional food experiences.

Our expert food matchmakers offer advice sure to get customers’ hearts all aflutter.

It’s a new year! Time to take stock of your stock! Whether you’re new to the game, or been in the food business for some time, the slow down after the post holiday rush is a great time to evaluate your inventory and plan for the new year.

New year also means new you! Time to expand, or brush up on your purchasing knowledge. We polled our buying experts for their top purchasing tips and tricks sure to make your candy selection the best on the block.