MEDIA RELEASE
29th OCTOBER, 2013
Kiwis Stock Cupboards Ahead of Halloween But Cambridge Has Country’s Sweetest Tooth
New World has been busy with mini collectables over the past two months but another small item, sweets, are about to
dominate trolleys as the country prepares for Halloween.
The nationwide supermarket group traditionally sees a spike in sweet sales around Halloween with volumes increasing by
25% nationally in the week leading up to 31 October.
And it seems more and more Kiwis like to be prepared when trick or treaters come to their doors with women purchasing
the majority of sweets.
There are also distinct regional differences when it comes to which town has the sweetest tooth around Halloween.
Customers at New World Brookfield near Tauranga bought the most sweets for Halloween 2012 while New World Clendon in
Manurewa had the biggest jump in sweet sales for Halloween itself.
North Islanders seem to prefer sweets at this ghoulish time over their South Island counterparts.
But when it comes to the town with the sweetest tooth Cambridge takes the cake - or sweet in this instance. Customers
living in the Waikato-township purchased more sweets for Halloween at their Anzac Street New World store than any other
New World in the country. Sales increased by 64% in the week prior to Halloween (18-Oct to 24-Oct) and compared this to
the sales in the week of Halloween (25-Oct to 31-Oct).
New World Cambridge owner/operator Darren Tucker was chuffed to learn that his customers have such a passion for sweets
but not completely surprised.
“My wife and I moved to Cambridge just shy of 12 months so this will be our first Halloween in the town but what’s stood
out clearly is how family orientated this community is. I’m not surprised by the penchant for sweets by our customers
either as we have a really nice mix of young and older shoppers and both seem to enjoy sweets as much as each other.
“We’re expecting Halloween to be big day for sweet sales but some staff have had kids knocking on their doors for treats
already! We’re also running a Little Shop mini collectables swap for customers this Thursday from 3pm until 5pm so it’s
going to be a very busy day all-round.”
As an added treat, those living north of Turangi will also enjoy a complimentary Cadbury Screme Egg when they purchase
something at their local New World on 31st October. It will be interesting to learn which town “screme’s” the loudest on
Halloween but Mr Tucker says his bet is on Cambridge!
Town/CitySweet Sales uplift CAMBRIDGE64% TAUMARUNUI53% TOKOROA50% LOWER HUTT47% WHITBY45% WELLINGTON43% ROTORUA42% AUCKLAND42% HAMILTON38% INVERCARGILL38%
ENDS