SHOPRITE FEATURES HAUNT FOR CANDY

RICHARD TURCSIK

CLARK, N.J. -- A new ShopRite Supermarket here got a jump on the Halloween season by including a massive candy display in its recent grand opening.

Bags of chocolates and other confections are being merchandised in a Halloween-themed display located in a seasonal section at the front of the store. The display, which consists of 12, 3-foot dump bins, is called the Hershey/Reese's Haunted House. Though it offers Hershey and Reese's candy, the Haunted House includes selections from other manufacturers as well. It supplements candy sold in the regular confection section.

The Haunted House is highlighted with inflated Mylar balloons featuring Halloween scenes, such as ghosts and tombstones.

At the display, products from M&M/Mars, Hackettstown, N.J., including Milky Way, Snickers, Three Musketeers and Twix bars, are merchandised at two bags for $5, SN found during a store visit recently. Hershey products -- which include Reese's peanut butter cups, Kit Kat bars, Krackel, Rolo, Whatchamacallit, Mounds and Almond Joy -- are being sold at $2.79 a bag. Nestle products, which include Nestle bars, Nestle Crunch and Raisinettes, are $2.99 a bag.

During SN's visit, nonchocolate and Halloween novelty items -- including such staples as candy corn, popcorn balls, marshmallow pumpkins, lollipops, Mary Janes and Mason Dots -- were merchandised from a 28-foot shelf set across from the center aisle haunted house display. A 16-ounce bag of Brach's candy corn was featured at $1.49; a 24-count package of marshmallow pumpkin candies was 99 cents; and a 22-ounce tub of Farley's pumpkin chew candies was $1.99.

On the shelving on the opposite side of the display, ShopRite cross merchandised Halloween costumes, masks, toys, trinkets and household decorations.

The ShopRite store, which replaces a unit about a quarter of a mile away, is operated by ShopRite Supermarkets, a subsidiary of Wakefern Food Corp., Elizabeth, N.J., the cooperative wholesaler that serves as the supply and merchandising arm for ShopRite stores.