國際時事跟讀 Ep. L088: 萬聖節新趨勢：軟糖取代巧克力Halloween's New Reality: Gummies Replace Chocolate

----------------------------------- 🎧 通勤學英語 VIP 專區 & 🚀 線上課程 ----------------------------------- 💡 想要更自然的提升英語力？加入VIP會員，獲得專屬內容與優惠！立即加入VIP方案 → https://15minstoday.firstory.io/joinVIP訂閱常見問題 →https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/5cjptb 🔥 社會人核心英語有聲書課程→https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/554esm ------------------------------- 🌎 15Mins.Today 相關連結 ------------------------------- 💬 你的想法很重要！留言分享 → 留言連結 Web：www.15mins.today YouTube：https://15minsengcafe.pse.is/3rhuuy 商業合作/贊助來信：[e-mail] 意見回覆 : [e-mail] -------------------------------------------- 📜 單集逐字稿 & 內容摘要（播放器字數有限，完整逐字稿請到官網查看） -------------------------------------------- 國際時事跟讀 Ep. L088: Halloween's New Reality: Gummies Replace Chocolate Highlights 主題摘要Chocolate's Halloween market share dropped from 52% to 44% as fruity gummies gain popularity among younger consumers.Global cocoa prices quadrupled between 2023-2025 due to West African drought, making chocolate far more expensive.Non-chocolate candy sales surged 4.9% in 2024 while chocolate sales grew only 0.4%. This Halloween, trick-or-treaters might notice something different in their candy bags: fewer chocolate bars and more gummy bears, fruity chews, and freeze-dried treats. The shift reflects a major transformation in the Halloween candy market. According to market research from Circana, chocolate accounted for just 44% of Halloween candy sales in the weeks leading up to October 2025, down from 52% the previous year. This trend particularly appeals to younger consumers, who have been gravitating toward the diverse shapes, colors, and flavors that non-chocolate candies offer. 今年萬聖節，不給糖就搗蛋的孩子們可能會發現糖果袋裡有些不同：巧克力棒變少了，小熊軟糖、水果軟糖和冷凍乾燥零食變多了。這個轉變反映出萬聖節糖果市場的重大變革。根據Circana的市場研究報告，在2025年10月前幾週的萬聖節糖果銷售中，巧克力僅占44%，比前一年的52%下降。這種趨勢特別受到年輕消費者的青睞，他們越來越被非巧克力糖果提供的多樣形狀、色彩和口味所吸引。 Behind this sweet revolution lies a bitter reality: a global cocoa crisis. Between January 2023 and January 2025, cocoa prices skyrocketed more than fourfold, reaching $10,710 per metric ton—an all-time high. The culprit? Severe drought and climate change devastated cocoa harvests in West Africa, which produces 70% of the world's cocoa supply. This shortage hit consumers' wallets hard. In the 12 weeks before October 5, chocolate Halloween candy averaged $8.02 per pound, while non-chocolate alternatives cost just $5.77 per pound—a price gap that made many shoppers reconsider their purchasing decisions. 在這場甜蜜革命的背後，隱藏著苦澀的現實：全球可可危機。2023年1月至2025年1月間，可可價格暴漲超過四倍，達到每公噸10,710美元的歷史新高。罪魁禍首是什麼？嚴重乾旱和氣候變遷摧毀了西非的可可收成，而西非生產了全球70%的可可供應量。這種短缺重創了消費者的荷包。在10月5日前的12週內，巧克力萬聖節糖果平均每磅8.02美元，而非巧克力替代品每磅僅5.77美元——這樣的價差讓許多消費者重新考慮購買的決定。 The impact on consumer behavior has been dramatic. Despite these challenges, Americans spent $7.4 billion on Halloween candy in 2024, representing 18% of all annual candy sales. However, the distribution shifted notably: non-chocolate candy sales surged 4.9% while chocolate sales crawled forward at just 0.4%. Major manufacturers responded swiftly. Mars Inc. began rolling out Halloween products as early as July 5, planning two years ahead for each season. Hershey maintained its market leadership with a 40.8% share, though even its chocolate-heavy lineup faced growing competition from gummy and fruity alternatives. 對消費者行為的影響相當戲劇化。儘管面臨這些挑戰，美國人在2024年仍在萬聖節糖果上花費74億美元，占全年糖果銷售的18%。然而，分布出現顯著變化：非巧克力糖果銷售激增4.9%，而巧克力銷售僅以0.4%緩慢成長。大型製造商迅速回應。瑪氏食品公司早在7月5日就開始推出萬聖節產品，為每個季節提前兩年規劃。好時公司則保持40.8%的市場領導地位，儘管其巧克力為主的產品線也面臨軟糖和水果糖果日益增長的競爭。 This transformation extends beyond individual trick-or-treat bags to broader market dynamics. Statistics Canada reported confectionery prices in Newfoundland and Labrador jumped 10.4% year-over-year, with ...