Did you know that Halloween is the most expensive holiday after Christmas? This is due to all the candy, costumes, and decorations that people purchase for October 31st.
But what brand represents Halloween? I challenge you to pick a single brand. However, here's my list of five very memorable Halloween brands:
M&M'S
Due to its yummy chocolate taste and timeless tagline since 1954, "It melts in your mouth, not in your hands," everyone's favorite candy may be M&M'S. According to the candy's website, "[What's] the scariest part of Halloween? An empty candy bowl! Fear not! The M&M'S Rescue Squad is on call on Halloween Night. Starting at 5pm Eastern Time on October 31st, we (in partnership with Gopuff) will deliver free M&M'S to your door in under an hour. No tricks, just treats!" That's an interesting marketing campaign.
Here's a look back at M&M'S history:
"Forrest E. Mars, Sr., established M&M'S Limited in Newark, New Jersey, and M&M'S Plain Chocolate Candies were introduced in 1941."
"M&M'S had become so popular by 1950 that an ingenious solution for consumers to distinguish the real M&M'S from inferior imitators was to stamp each candy with the now famous "m". The slogan "Look for the m on every piece" was created. M&M'S Peanut Chocolate Candies were introduced in 1954, and the color used to print the "m" on M&M'S Plain and Peanut Chocolate Candies was changed from black to white."
"Mars became the first candy in space when M&M'S Chocolate Candies were chosen by the first space shuttle astronauts to be included in their food supply. M&M'S Plain and Peanut Chocolate Candies became the "Official Snack Foods of the Olympic Games" in 1984. With brand harmonization in the 1980’s, M&M's Candies went global, expanding into Asia Pacific, Australia, Europe and Russia! M&M'S Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies were introduced in the U.S. in 1989."
"M&M'S Colorworks offered consumers a kaleidoscope of 21 colored M&M'S Milk Chocolate Candies through selected specialty candy stores and via the internet at my M&M'S. Production of M&M'S Mini’s Milk Chocolate Candies begun in 1997. M&M'S Colorworks Peanut Candies were launched in 1998 at M&M'S world stores."
"M&M'S Chocolate Candies became "The Official Candy of the New Millenium." MM was the Roman numeral for 2000. In 2004, M&M'S Chocolate launched My M&M'S – the new online service for consumers to design their own customized message on M&M'S Chocolate Candies. In 2008, the launch of "Faces" allowed customers to upload personal images to their personalized candies."
"In 2022, M&M'S launched SPOKESCANDIES and announced a new global brand platform celebrating the power of fun. And in 2025, the new brand platform, ‘It’s More Fun Together’ celebrates the power of fun and togetherness – because no one brings more fun than M&M’S. Beloved across generations, M&M’S will continue to create moments of shared laughter by making everyday moments more fun for everyone."
OREO
According to Oreo's website, "OREO Orange Creme Chocolate Sandwich Cookies are the classic OREO cookies you’ve always loved with a fun Halloween twist. Supremely dunkable with a spooky, festive flair, these Halloween cookies feature two chocolate wafers filled with rich orange-colored creme filling. Featuring five spooky Halloween designs, these chocolate sandwich cookies make the perfect Halloween treats, whether you need Halloween decor or Halloween party favors or snacks to enjoy during your favorite Halloween movies. Each Halloween package features a festive "BOO!" in big bold letters to get you in the spirit, and an easy-pull tab to keep the cookies fresh and ready for snacking, sharing, or traveling."
Here's a look back at the OREO cookie, "The first OREO cookie was produced in the Chelsea Market in Manhattan. In 1923, OREO begins to teach people how to "twist, lick, and dunk" together when the first advertisement showing the "twist" appears on trolley cars. In 1928, OREO goes global and begins exporting cookies to Central and Latin America. In 1974, OREO gets playful in the kitchen and intrduces Double Stuf, giving eager fans twice as much of the "Stuff Inside." In 1991, OREO gets into the spooky spirit and launches the Halloweeen OREO cookie with orange colored creme. Trick-or-treaters everywhere scoop them up, making it one of the most favorite limited editions. In 1992, Mini turns mighty when OREO Mini takes cookie shelves and cookie jars by storm. In 2006, OREO becomes China's #1 selling cookie. In 2013, when the lights went out during the NFL Championship Game, OREO lit up the internet with a single tweet by reminding the world that they can still "Dunk in the dark." And today, OREO cookies can be found in more than 100 countries, and over 40 billion cookies are produced a year. When stacked, that's enough to circle the earth five times."
REESE'S
According to the Hersheyland website, "REESEʼS Halloween Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Pumpkins are the classic combo you love in a fun, seasonal shape. Milk chocolate and peanut butter are scary good together." There are also related products: REESE'S Werewolf Tracks Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, REESE'S Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack Size Bats, REESE'S White Creme Pumpkins, and REESE'S White Creme Peanut Butter Snack Size Ghosts.
Who knew chocolate and peanut butter were made for Halloween?
SPIRIT HALLOWEEN STORES
According to the brand's website, "Spirit Halloween is the largest Halloween retailer in the country. With more than 1,500 seasonal locations in strip centers and malls across North America, Spirit is the one-stop destination for all things Halloween. For more than four decades, Spirit has created immersive and interactive experiences for shoppers, complete with a unique and vast assortment of costumes and accessories for infants, toddlers, children, tweens, teens, and adults, along with exclusive decor and animatronics you won't find anywhere else.
Since 1983, Spirit Halloween has offered a one-of-a-kind experience that remains unmatched in the industry. Stores begin to open at the end of the summer, marking the highly anticipated start of the Halloween season. Die-hard Halloween enthusiasts ready to celebrate around the clock can visit Spirit's online store, available year-round.
At the heart of Spirit Halloween is its philanthropic arm, Spirit of Children. The program began in 2006 starting with 11 partner hospitals across the country. Their belief that the celebration and community around Halloween could bring joy and make hospitals less scary for children and their families worked magic! Spirit of Children now has over 159 partner hospitals and has raised over 127 million dollars through the generous support of Spirit Halloween guests, associates, and business partners. All proceeds raised stay in their local market providing critical Child Life resources for pediatric hospital partners."
If you want a Halloween costume and an in-person retail experience, then Spirit Halloween is your place.
HGTV'S SCARIEST HOUSE IN AMERICA
According to HGTV's show description, "Comedian Retta travels across the country to courageously tour homes full of haunts, frights, and scares. After crowning the most terrifying house of them all, designer Alison Victoria surprises the homeowners with a scary-good $150,000 renovation. During the 2025 season, Retta toured 15 eerie and terrifying houses through the Midwest, Northeast, and South that had everything from built-in death traps and questionable taxidermy to daunting basements and ghost sightings. Retta shared hilariously unfiltered views about each home’s scary appearance, bad function, and fright factor."
According to Retta, "I did not see this iteration of this show coming. (She had previously hosted HGTV'S Ugliest House in America.) I was cool with the summer road trip and ugly in paradise, but, for a gal that is spooked by every creak, critter, and errant hair that brushes my shoulder, this wasn’t it. Glad I got through it, but I won’t lie and say I ‘enjoyed’ it."
What is your fave Halloween brand? Chime in and share. Happy Halloween - and don't eat too much candy!
SHARE THIS: I don't know that there are real ghosts and goblins, but there are always more trick-or-treaters than neighborhood kids. ~Robert Brault #HappyHalloween #DebbieLaskeysBlog
Image Credits: M&M'S (Mars, Inc.), OREO, and Reese's (Hershey).
Here's the website for the M&M'S Halloween Rescue Squad:
https://mmshalloweenrescuesquad.com/
Read about the tagline, M&M’s: Melts In Your Mouth, Not In Your Hands:
https://journalofantiques.com/columns/antiques-peek/mms-melts-in-your-mouth-not-in-your-hands/
Read more about Gopuff, the future of shopping:
https://www.gopuff.com/about-us
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