Most Popular Valentine’s Day Candy: Top Treat In Georgia

After being absent from store shelves in 2019, the formidable candy “conversation” hearts returned this year but also ended their reign as the most popular Valentine’s Day candy among states. And, according to online shop Candy Store, a heart-shaped box of chocolates was there in 2020 to soothe the sting of abandonment.

Candy Store, which sells inexpensive candies in a variety of flavors and textures in bulk quantities for holidays and special occasions, recently released this year’s list of most popular Valentine’s Day candy by state. According to the National Retail Federation, those celebrating the holiday said they plan to spend an average $196.31, up 21 percent over last year’s previous record of $161.96. Spending is expected to top $27.4 billion, up 32 percent from last year.

But which candy won the hearts of people in Georgia? According to this year’s list, heart-shaped box of chocolates is the most popular on Valentine’s Day. And, in case it doesn’t work out with our sweet soulmate, Georgia residents are also quite fond of chocolate roses and conversation hearts, respectively.

To determine each state’s candy crush, Candy Store used and compiled sales data from the past 12 years from its online bulk store and industry partners.

For several years, the heart-shaped “conversation” candies that deliver sugary Valentines Day messages climbed in popularity, eventually overtaking the heart-shaped box of chocolates. However, after Spangler Candy Co. acquired the rights to the SweetHearts from Necco in September 2018, the company didn’t have the wherewithal to meet what has been a 19 million-pound annual demand for the sentimental candies.

While other brands, such as Brach’s, did step into the vacuum left by SweetHearts, it wasn’t enough to fend off heart-shaped boxes of chocolates in their many iterations.

Also on the move are M&M’s. Last year, M&M’s cracked more top-three spots than ever, according to this year’s list, and it continues to ascend rankings this year. M&M’s claimed three additional No. 1 spots this year, taking advantage of a drop-off in conversation hearts in Arizona, Kansas and New Jersey.