As we prepare for what is anticipated to be one of the biggest Halloweens yet, it’s key that convenience stores across the country have a strong range, beyond sweets. Halloween is a key impulse and basket-building occasion, with top categories including soft drinks, confectionery and snacks.
As retailers across the country prepare for trick-or-treat season and plenty of purchases for at-home gatherings – with nearly 1 in 2 celebrating Halloween with a party* last year – we sat down with Coca Cola to share some advice on what retailers need to keep in mind:
New and Limited-Edition products
As shoppers look to head to convenience stores for last-minute pre-party shops, ensuring that there is plenty of exciting products, such as new or limited-edition varieties, will capture incremental sales and allow retailers to capitalise on one of the fastest-growing commercial occasions of the year.
For Halloween 2026, Coca Cola has introduced new limited-edition Fanta Halloween editions to its line-up, to capture the attention of shoppers. With unique characters on the Halloween editions, fans will be able to collect the limited-edition Fanta over spooky season.
Great availability
Heading into convenience stores, customers are looking for shelves that are well stocked and offer a good choice to help complete those seasonal shops. Keeping stock levels high ready for peak demand is vital for sales.
From a soft drinks’ perspective, convenience stores that offer the full Fanta portfolio, with a consistent and trusted stock level, are best placed to convert impulse missions into larger baskets.
Over the winter season, those who also stock the new Fanta Halloween special-edition packs, will benefit from the strong association between Fanta, fun, sharing and Halloween celebrations.
Range
With consumers having varied missions over the festive period, from looking for the perfect party food to fun mixers for home-made mocktails and cocktails, range in-store must be well considered.
By offering mini bags, small sharing tubs as well as a variety of soft drinks weeks ahead of the Halloween, stores will build shoppers’ affinity to return to the store for those last-minute seasonal treats and deals.
Interestingly, flavoured soft drinks are driving category growth, so stocking Fanta Orange, Fanta Zero and other core flavours helps retailers attract more shoppers, increase purchase frequency and capture incremental category value throughout the season.
The soft drinks category is a favoured and fun way to add extra fun to at-home Halloween occasions. With parties up 36%** year-on-year and Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, have your full trick-or-treat, party food and soft drinks range ready for high demand.
Sources:
*Co-op Panel Customer Research, Halloween 2025
**Co-op Panel Customer Research, Halloween 2025