The fall season, affectionately dubbed "Summer-ween," is starting earlier than ever this year. In New Jersey, the first Spirit Halloween store of the year opened its doors to thousands of eager customers on August 1st, braving the summer heat for a taste of autumn. This early onset of the Halloween season is not limited to costume stores. Major retailers like Michaels and Home Depot have already stocked their shelves with Halloween products, signaling the start of the fall season.
The demand for fall-themed products is high, with Halloween spending topping $12 billion last year. The pumpkin spice craze is a significant contributor to this trend. According to USA Today, pumpkin spice-flavored products are hitting the market earlier each year. This year, Krispy Kreme has already started serving Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Pumpkin Spice Cake Doughnuts.
Starbucks, a major player in the pumpkin spice game, is set to reveal its fall menu, including the famous Pumpkin Spice Lattes, on August 22nd, according to The Sun. The coffee chain is also offering the drinks as iced beverages or blended in a Frappuccino, in addition to the classic hot version.
The pumpkin spice trend extends beyond beverages. Hefty is selling cinnamon pumpkin spice-scented trash bags, and Chosen Foods has a Pumpkin Spice Avocado Oil available on its website.
Despite the early arrival of these fall-themed products, consumers seem to be embracing the trend. Pumpkin-related searches on Yelp are up 147% in July 2024, compared to July 2019. As the industry embraces 'Augtober' as the unofficial start of fall flavors, the demand for pumpkin flavors is expected to continue.