Easter’s one of the sweetest seasons for chocolate and candy brands, but that doesn’t mean competition can’t turn spicy. Consumers are searching for gifts to fill baskets, eggs, and little treats to hide around the house and yard. Easter spending is expected to hit a record $24.9 billion in 2026, with shoppers budgeting an all-time high average of $195 per person.
What’s the most popular Easter purchasing category? Candy, of course, with 92% of consumers planning to purchase sweets this Spring.
Top chocolate and candy brands are using smart, timely digital campaigns to stand out and capitalize on well-planned and last-minute Easter shopping.
Here’s how our favorite sweet tooth-satisfiers are hopping on egg-cellent Easter sales.
How the Best Candy Brands Sweeten Their Easter Campaigns
1. Leading with a Savings Hook
Brands open the Easter season with a clear offer, promo code, and deadline. This allows for reminders, follow-ups and urgency before the big day approaches.
2. Using Countdown Urgency and Delivery Deadlines
As Easter approaches, brands shift from “shop early” to “order by 6 p.m. tonight” — just like fashion brands advertising “order-by” dates before Christmas, chocolate and sweets brands can advertise clear, predictable delivery windows for Easter Sunday egg hunts. In the example shared from Hotel Chocolat, they’re capitalizing on a previously set delivery window by sending out a reminder to “buy today” to receive chocolate in time for Easter. Plus, they remind the user of the mouthwatering praline slices and cute little chocolate bunnies they can celebrate Easter Sunday with.
3. Celebrate the In-Store Experience for Last-Minute Shoppers
If a user lives within driving distance of a brick-and-mortar location, this can be the most powerful driver of last-minute sales.
Don’t forget that your email subscribers can “hop in store,” too — just like Hotel Chocolat reminded theirs, “they’ll never know it was last minute…”
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4. Build Aspiration with Basket & Gift Content
Let’s say you’re scratching your head for something new to throw in your kids’ Easter basket — if you search “best Easter basket candy ideas,” See’s Candies’ blog titled Top 10 Best Easter Basket Candy Ideas is sure to pop up first.
Suggestions range from Easter classics like chocolate bunnies and rocky road eggs to sour bunnies See’s Candies very own “Bunny Box” (look it up!). 
See’s Candies also ties Easter to a charitable fundraiser, notably raising money for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul with each Easter purchase — showing they haven’t forgotten what the holiday is all about. Brb — running to buy a Bunny Box.
5. Drive Urgency with Playful, Seasonal Copywriting
Who doesn’t love a good laugh, even when they’re looking at a marketing email? We’re so inundated with marketing messages today — so do your customers a favor and make sure they’re purposeful, honest, and FUN.
Just like this Easter kickoff email from See’s Candies. I mean, hunting for Easter eggs is fun. Eating chocolate is fun. Shouldn’t marketing for chocolate eggs be fun, too?
Not only does good copy sell better, good, playful copy builds brand rapport, too. It helps the consumer get to know you as a brand. Don’t let copy be an afterthought this Easter.
The Sweetest Season Calls for the Smartest Strategy
Easter is a high-stakes, time-compressed window where smart digital marketing — across email and SMS — can make or break a candy or chocolate brand’s seasonal revenue.
The brands that win aren’t just sending great emails or texts; they’re measuring performance in real time and fast, while carrying out a clearly mapped out strategy.
With these tips, your basket will be overflowing.
Want Wunderkind's identity network backing your email and SMS — with full creative control, or our team's help? Reach out.
Oh! And of course, Happy Easter to you and yours.
