Why Pumpkin-Flavored Everything is Here to Stay

If it seems like the calendar flipped to September and everyone started talking about pumpkin-flavored products, it’s not your imagination. Get ready for the great pumpkin invasion, as coined by Nielsen. Since 2011, sales of pumpkin products have grown 79% and last year, sales accounted for more than $361 million. A large slice of the pie is-- well, it’s actually pie filling, with $135 million in sales. As seen in the graphic below, however, there are a variety of consumer packaged goods (CPGs) contributing to the sales. Interestingly enough, sales of fresh pumpkins have been declining in three of the last four years, while indulgent treats, dips and sweets continue to steadily increased. We see evidence of this trend in Hostess fall product lineup of Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes and Maple Glazed Donettes. But pumpkin-flavored cookies and cakes are merely grazing the surface of fall-flavored CPGs. How big is pumpkin? Big enough for People to compile “The Comprehensive Guide to Pumpkin Spice Flavored Foods.” I’ve organized some standouts by category:

Breakfast Foods

Kellogg’s Frosted Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts Quaker Pumpkin Spice Instant Oatmeal Pumpkin Spice Mini Wheats Kashi Pumpkin Spice Flax

Pumpkin Spice Coffee

Keurig McCafe Pumpkin Spice Coffee Bailey’s Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer Starbucks Instant Pumpkin Spice Latte Don’t forget the Baileys Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer!

Bakery

Keebler’s Fudge Striped Pumpkin Spice Nestle Toll House Pumpkin Cookie Dough Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Spice Swirl Bread Pepperidge Farms Pumpkin Spice Milanos Nonni’s Pumpkin Spice Biscotti Pumpkin Spice Oreos

Confectionery

Nestle Pumpkin Flavored Morsels Hershey’s Pumpkin Spice Kisses Pumpkin Spice Latte M&Ms Just Born Inc. Pumpkin Spice Peeps Nestle Toll House Pumpkin Cookie Dough

Dairy

Chobani Pumpkin Spice Greek Yogurt Yoplait Greek 100 Whips! Pumpkin Cheesecake Ben & Jerry’s Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream

Salty Snacks

Planters Pumpkin Spice Almonds Boulder Canyon Pumpkin Pie Flavored Chips Food Should Taste Good Harvest Pumpkin Tortilla Chips

Cheer to Pumpkin Beer!

I was surprised to see pumpkin beer in August this year, but an earlier release makes sense when the general consensus among brewers is that consumers stop drinking pumpkin beer around Halloween. According to market research firm IRI, seasonal beer makes up 15 percent to 25 percent of the more than $19.6 billion in annual craft beer sales.

Pumpkin Alternatives

Don’t like pumpkin but still want to get into the fall season? People also profiles these flavors for “pumpkin spice haters”: Apple Cinnamon (of course!) Brown Butter Candy Corn Chai Pecan Pie Salted Caramel Snickerdoodle ...But did I mention there’s such a thing as Khalua Pumpkin Spice Coffee Liquer? OK, I’ll stop now.