How popular isNerds?
In September 2026, people searched for Nerds by name about 27,100 times in the United States, a 45.3% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 5.2% of all United States candy brand searches, placing Nerds sixth out of eight brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about candy brands, Nerds appeared in two of the four answers and was the fourth most recommended of the eight.
Nerds is the sixth most searched of 8 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.
SkittlesShare of searches 31.9%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
Sour Patch KidsShare of searches 26.1%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
TwizzlersShare of searches 11.7%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Swedish FishShare of searches 9.6%Mentioned in 1 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
NerdsShare of searches 5.2%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
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 one Google AI Overview, Nerds was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Nerds is the fourth most recommended of the eight.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Haribo1st- Sour Patch Kids2nd
Trolli3rd- Nerds4th
- Skittles5th
- Swedish Fish6th
- Twizzlers–
Starburst–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Sour Patch Kids3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Haribo3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Skittles2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Nerds2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Trolli2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Swedish Fish1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Twizzlers0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Starburst0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about candy brands
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best candy to buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which gummy candy brand is the best?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the most popular sour candy?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“candy brands”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 27, 2026.
Which candy brands compete with Nerds?
Share of searches by month for Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Twizzlers, Swedish Fish, Haribo, Nerds, Trolli, Starburst. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Skittles | Sour Patch Kids | Twizzlers | Swedish Fish | Haribo | Nerds | Trolli | Starburst |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 29.6% | 24.3% | 13.3% | 8.9% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 6% | 3.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 28.4% | 23.2% | 15.6% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 7% | 5.7% | 3.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 27.2% | 27.2% | 12.2% | 10% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 3% |
| Jan 2026 | 27.6% | 27.6% | 12.4% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 5.5% | 3.7% |
| Feb 2026 | 31.9% | 26.1% | 11.7% | 7.8% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 2.9% |
| Mar 2026 | 31.4% | 25.7% | 11.5% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 5.2% | 2.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 27.2% | 27.2% | 12.2% | 10% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 3% |
| May 2026 | 27.1% | 27.1% | 12.1% | 9.9% | 8.1% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 2.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 28.7% | 23.6% | 12.9% | 10.6% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 5.8% | 2.6% |
| Jul 2026 | 25.3% | 25.3% | 13.9% | 11.3% | 9.3% | 7.6% | 5.1% | 2.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 30.1% | 24.6% | 13.5% | 9% | 9% | 5% | 6.1% | 2.7% |
| Sep 2026 | 31.9% | 26.1% | 11.7% | 9.6% | 7.8% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 2.3% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 31.9% | 165K | +22.2% | +1.8 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 26.1% | 135K | +22.7% | +1.6 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 11.7% | 60.5K | 0% | -1.8 points | |
| 4, moved from 5th to 4th | 9.6% | 49.5K | +22.2% | +0.5 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 4th to 5th | 7.8% | 40.5K | 0% | -1.2 pointsmoved from 4th to 5th | |
| 6, moved from 7th to 6th | 5.2% | 27.1K | +22.1% | +0.3 pointsmoved from 7th to 6th | |
| 7, moved from 6th to 7th | 5.2% | 27.1K | 0% | -0.8 pointsmoved from 6th to 7th | |
| 8, held 8th | 2.3% | 12.1K | 0% | -0.4 points |
1.
Skittles31.9%
Held 1st. 165K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +1.8 points.
26.1%
Held 2nd. 135K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +1.6 points.
11.7%
Held 3rd. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.8 points.
9.6%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.
5.
Haribo7.8%
Moved from 4th to 5th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.
6.
Nerds5.2%
Moved from 7th to 6th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, +22.1% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
7.
Trolli5.2%
Moved from 6th to 7th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.
2.3%
Held 8th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
Compare popularity between Nerds and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Nerds
7 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Nerds changed in the United States over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Nerds in the United States fell from 49.5K to 27.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Nerds’ share of searches among candy brands in the United States decreased from 7.3% to 5.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Nerds’ share of searches among candy brands in the United States peaked at 7.6% in July 2026 and was lowest at 5% in August 2026.
How did search popularity change for United States candy brands in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Swedish Fish overtook Haribo to rank 4th among candy brands in the United States, with 9.6% of the searches.
In September 2026, Skittles gained share of searches among candy brands in the United States, from 30.1% to 31.9%.
In September 2026, Sour Patch Kids gained share of searches among candy brands in the United States, from 24.6% to 26.1%.
In September 2026, Twizzlers lost share of searches among candy brands in the United States, from 13.5% to 11.7%.
In September 2026, Haribo lost share of searches among candy brands in the United States, from 9% to 7.8%.
In September 2026, Trolli lost share of searches among candy brands in the United States, from 6.1% to 5.2%.
How are Nerds’ branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Nerds’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- nerds candy
Who owns Nerds?
Nerds is owned by Ferrara. Brandwave also tracks Trolli, owned by the same company, in the United States.
Do you work for Nerds? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.
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.