Brandwave

How popular isNerds?

In October 2026, people searched for Nerds by name about 262,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 9.5% of all global candy brand searches, placing Nerds fourth out of 15 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about candy brands, Nerds appeared in two of the five answers and was the fourth most recommended of the 15.

Search and AI answers in October 2026

Nerds is the fourth most searched of 15 competitors and the fourth most recommended in the AI answers we collected.

  1. HariboShare of searches 20%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. SkittlesShare of searches 20%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. Sour Patch KidsShare of searches 13.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. NerdsShare of searches 9.5%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. Jolly RancherShare of searches 9%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

+10 more

Nerds website (opens in a new tab)

Follow Nerds and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Top candy brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Nerds was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Nerds is the fourth most recommended of the 15.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Sour Patch Kids1st
  2. Haribo2nd
  3. Skittles3rd
  4. Nerds4th
  5. Jolly Rancher5th
  6. Warheads6th
  7. Starburst7th
  8. Trolli8th
  9. Mike and Ike9th
  10. Airheads10th
  11. +5 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Sour Patch Kids5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Haribo3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Skittles3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Nerds2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Jolly Rancher2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Mike and Ike2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Warheads2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Starburst2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Airheads2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Hi-Chew1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about candy brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 26, 2026.

How often do people search for Nerds compared with other candy brands worldwide?

Nerds against candy brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Haribo, Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Nerds, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Hi-Chew, Swedish Fish, Jelly Belly, Mike and Ike, Trolli. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHariboSkittlesSour Patch KidsNerdsJolly RancherTwizzlersHi-ChewSwedish FishJelly BellyMike and IkeTrolliWarheadsStarburstAirheadsMaynards Bassetts
Nov 202523.2%18.9%10.4%11.6%8.5%5.7%3.8%3.8%3.8%2.5%3.8%1.4%1.4%1.1%0.05%
Dec 202523.8%19.4%10.6%9.7%8.7%5.8%3.9%3.2%4.8%3.2%3.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%0.06%
Jan 202624.7%20.2%11%8.8%9%4.9%4.1%3.3%4.1%2.7%3.3%1.2%1.5%1%0.06%
Feb 202624.4%20%10.9%10%8.9%4.9%4%3.3%4%2.7%3.3%1.2%1.3%0.99%0.04%
Mar 202623.8%19.5%10.7%9.8%8.7%4.8%3.9%3.9%4.8%3.2%3.2%1.4%1.2%0.96%0.06%
Apr 202624.2%19.8%10.8%8.6%8.9%4.8%4%4%4.8%3.3%3.3%1.2%1.3%0.98%0.06%
May 202623.6%19.3%10.6%9.7%8.6%5.8%3.9%3.9%4.7%2.6%3.9%1.2%1.2%0.95%0.04%
Jun 202623.4%19.2%10.5%9.6%8.6%5.7%4.7%3.9%3.9%3.1%3.9%1.2%1.2%1.2%0.07%
Jul 202623%18.8%10.3%10%8.4%5.6%4.6%3.8%4.6%3.1%3.8%1.1%1.2%1.4%0.05%
Aug 202621.7%21.7%9.7%8.9%9.7%5.3%4.4%3.6%4.4%3.6%3.6%1.3%1.1%1.3%0.06%
Sep 202620.8%20.8%11.4%8.5%9.3%6.3%4.2%4.2%4.2%3.4%3.4%1.3%1.1%1%0.05%
Oct 202620%20%13.4%9.5%9%6%4%4%3.3%3.3%3.3%1.5%1.4%1.2%0.05%

  1. 1.Haribo

    20%

    Held 1st. 550K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  2. 2.Skittles

    20%

    Held 2nd. 550K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  3. 3.Sour Patch Kids

    13.4%

    Held 3rd. 368K estimated branded searches, +49.6% vs prior month. Share +2 points.

  4. 4.Nerds

    9.5%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 262K estimated branded searches, +41.7% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  5. 5.Jolly Rancher

    9%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 246K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  6. 6.Twizzlers

    6%

    Held 6th. 165K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  7. 7.Hi-Chew

    4%

    Held 7th. 110K estimated branded searches, +21.5% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  8. 8.Swedish Fish

    4%

    Moved from 9th to 8th. 110K estimated branded searches, +21.5% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  9. 9.Jelly Belly

    3.3%

    Moved from 8th to 9th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.

  10. 10.Mike and Ike

    3.3%

    Held 10th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  11. 11.Trolli

    3.3%

    Held 11th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  12. 12.Warheads

    1.5%

    Held 12th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, +49.4% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  13. 13.Starburst

    1.4%

    Held 13th. 39.7K estimated branded searches, +68.9% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  14. 14.Airheads

    1.2%

    Held 14th. 33.1K estimated branded searches, +49.1% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  15. 15.Maynards Bassetts

    0.05%

    Held 15th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, +30% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Nerds and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Nerds

14 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Nerds changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Nerds worldwide held steady, from 275K to 262K.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Nerds’ share of searches among candy brands worldwide decreased from 11.6% to 9.5%.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Nerds’ share of searches among candy brands worldwide peaked at 11.6% in November 2025 and was lowest at 8.5% in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Nerds fell from 3rd to 4th among candy brands worldwide.

How did search popularity change for candy brands worldwide in October 2026?

6 changes

  1. In October 2026, Nerds overtook Jolly Rancher to rank 4th among candy brands worldwide, with 9.5% of the searches.

  2. In October 2026, Sour Patch Kids gained share of searches among candy brands worldwide, from 11.4% to 13.4%.

  3. In October 2026, Jelly Belly lost share of searches among candy brands worldwide, from 4.2% to 3.3%.

  4. In October 2026, Haribo lost share of searches among candy brands worldwide, from 20.8% to 20%.

  5. In October 2026, Skittles lost share of searches among candy brands worldwide, from 20.8% to 20%.

  6. Hi-Chew’s share of searches among candy brands worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 4.6% to 4% in October 2026.

How are Nerds’ branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Nerds’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • nerds candy
  • nerds gummy clusters

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Who owns Nerds?

Nerds is owned by Ferrara. Brandwave also tracks Trolli, owned by the same company, worldwide.

Do you work for Nerds? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is Nerds your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.

Start free