Candy brands in the United States:Which are most popular?

Name: Candy brands in the United States: Which are searched most?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In September 2026, Skittles was the most searched candy brand in the United States, accounting for 31.9% of all searches among the eight brands we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, Sour Patch Kids and Haribo were mentioned most often, in three of the four answers. Haribo was recommended most often, coming first in two out of three responses that gave a list.

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Top candy brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Sour Patch Kids and Haribo were mentioned most often, in three of the four answers. Haribo was recommended most often, coming first in two out of three answers that gave a list. Sour Patch Kids was second, and Trolli was third. Twizzlers, which ranked third in searches, was not mentioned at all.

Most recommended by AI

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

Mentioned by AI

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

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
Sour Patch Kids	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 1 Google AI Overviews	3 of 4
Haribo	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 1 Google AI Overviews	3 of 4
Skittles	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 1 Google AI Overviews	2 of 4
Nerds	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 1 Google AI Overviews	2 of 4
Trolli	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 1 Google AI Overviews	2 of 4
Swedish Fish	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 1 Google AI Overviews	1 of 4
Twizzlers	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 1 Google AI Overviews	0 of 4
Starburst	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 1 Google AI Overviews	0 of 4

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?”
1. 1Sour Patch Kids
2. 2Haribo
3. 3Nerds
Asked ChatGPT
“Which gummy candy brand is the best?”
1. 1Haribo
2. 2Trolli
3. 3Nerds
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the most popular sour candy?”
1. 1Skittles
2. 2Sour Patch Kids
Searched Google, AI Overview
“candy brands”
1. 1Haribo
2. 2Sour Patch Kids
3. 3Skittles
4. 4Swedish Fish
5. 5Trolli

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 27, 2026.

Which candy brands do people search for most?

This chart shows how often people search Google for each candy brand by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight candy brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Share of searches among candy brands in the United States, by month

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	Skittles	31.9%	165K	+22.2%	+1.8 points
2, held 2nd	Sour Patch Kids Mondelez International	26.1%	135K	+22.7%	+1.6 points
3, held 3rd	Twizzlers The Hershey Company	11.7%	60.5K	0%	-1.8 points
4, moved from 5th to 4th	Swedish Fish Mondelez International	9.6%	49.5K	+22.2%	+0.5 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th
5, moved from 4th to 5th	Haribo	7.8%	40.5K	0%	-1.2 pointsmoved from 4th to 5th
6, moved from 7th to 6th	Nerds Ferrara	5.2%	27.1K	+22.1%	+0.3 pointsmoved from 7th to 6th
7, moved from 6th to 7th	Trolli Ferrara	5.2%	27.1K	0%	-0.8 pointsmoved from 6th to 7th
8, held 8th	Starburst Mars	2.3%	12.1K	0%	-0.4 points

1.Skittles
31.9%
Held 1st. 165K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +1.8 points.
2.Sour Patch Kids
26.1%
Held 2nd. 135K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +1.6 points.
3.Twizzlers
11.7%
Held 3rd. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.8 points.
4.Swedish Fish
9.6%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.
5.Haribo
7.8%
Moved from 4th to 5th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.
6.Nerds
5.2%
Moved from 7th to 6th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, +22.1% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
7.Trolli
5.2%
Moved from 6th to 7th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.
8.Starburst
2.3%
Held 8th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

Which brand is most popular in search among candy brands in the United States?

8 brands

In September 2026, Skittles was the most searched among candy brands in the United States, with an estimated 165K branded searches, 31.9% of all searches for the eight we track. Sour Patch Kids is in 2nd place, 5.8 percentage points behind at 26.1%.

United States candy brands, last 12 months ending September 2026
Brand	Share of searches	Peak	Low	Rank
Skittles	29.6% → 31.9%	31.9%Feb 2026	25.3%Jul 2026	1st
Sour Patch Kids	24.3% → 26.1%	27.6%Jan 2026	23.2%Nov 2025	2nd
Twizzlers	13.3% → 11.7%	15.6%Nov 2025	11.5%Mar 2026	3rd
Swedish Fish	8.9% → 9.6%	11.3%Jul 2026	7.8%Feb 2026	4th
Haribo	7.3% → 7.8%	9.3%Jul 2026	7.3%Oct 2025	5th
Nerds	7.3% → 5.2%	7.6%Jul 2026	5%Aug 2026	6th
Trolli	6% → 5.2%	6.6%May 2026	5.1%Jul 2026	7th
Starburst	3.3% → 2.3%	3.7%Jan 2026	2.3%Jul 2026	8th

Each finding as a sentence

Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Skittles’ share of searches among candy brands in the United States increased from 29.6% to 31.9%.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sour Patch Kids’ share of searches among candy brands in the United States increased from 24.3% to 26.1%.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Twizzlers’ share of searches among candy brands in the United States decreased from 13.3% to 11.7%.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Swedish Fish’s share of searches among candy brands in the United States increased from 8.9% to 9.6%.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Haribo’s share of searches among candy brands in the United States increased from 7.3% to 7.8%.
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, Trolli’s share of searches among candy brands in the United States decreased from 6% to 5.2%.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Starburst’s share of searches among candy brands in the United States decreased from 3.3% to 2.3%.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Skittles’ share of searches among candy brands in the United States peaked at 31.9% in February 2026 and was lowest at 25.3% in July 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sour Patch Kids’ share of searches among candy brands in the United States peaked at 27.6% in January 2026 and was lowest at 23.2% in November 2025.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Twizzlers’ share of searches among candy brands in the United States peaked at 15.6% in November 2025 and was lowest at 11.5% in March 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Swedish Fish’s share of searches among candy brands in the United States peaked at 11.3% in July 2026 and was lowest at 7.8% in February 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Haribo’s share of searches among candy brands in the United States peaked at 9.3% in July 2026 and was lowest at 7.3% in October 2025.
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.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Trolli’s share of searches among candy brands in the United States peaked at 6.6% in May 2026 and was lowest at 5.1% in July 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Starburst’s share of searches among candy brands in the United States peaked at 3.7% in January 2026 and was lowest at 2.3% in July 2026.

How did search popularity change for United States candy brands in September 2026?

8 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%.
In September 2026, Nerds rose from 7th to 6th among candy brands in the United States.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Starburst in the United States fell 45.5% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 12.1K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted for candy brands?

8 search terms

Each brand's share of searches among candy brands comes from the terms listed under its name. When people mostly search for a brand because of something else it sells, only the searches that name this product count here.