MALVERN, Pa. -- Acme Markets here featured Halloween cakes and cupcakes in a full-page newspaper ad last week as a prelude to the larger opportunities for holiday bakery sales still on the horizon.
ems were listed below. Ghosts, skeletons, pumpkins, witches and black cats graced the tops of layer cakes, cupcakes, and even a wedge of cheesecake. Decorated cookies and candy corn were shown in the foreground.
An industry source familiar with Acme said that while the ad touted Halloween items, it was specifically designed also to get customers thinking about Acme bakeries as Thanksgiving and Christmas draw near.
Officials at the chain -- which has about 200 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware -- could not be reached for comment.
The ad was headlined, "Treat your Halloweeen monsters!" Small illustrations of hovering bats were shown against a full moon.
The following offers were listed across the bottom: Halloween cupcakes, $4.89 for a package of 12; single-layer Halloween 8-inch cake, $5.99; butter cookies, $5.99 for a 1-pound tray; Carvel Halloween pumpkin ice cream cake, $9.99. The ad indicated that the butter cookies are made in-store and that all items are "store decorated."
