With the summer sun long past and autumn’s chill settling in, you’d expect Halloween and Diwali to seize the spotlight in our favourite supermarkets.
But no! Amid the cobwebs and pumpkins, festive ghosts of Christmas Present are creeping in. Mariah Carey’s songs and mince pies lurk just beyond the shelves, though for now, let’s dive fearlessly into the eerie heart of Halloween
TescoBristol
In Tesco’s haunted aisles, an otherworldly Fanta display summoned Beetlejuice himself to the store’s front! Glowing, spectral eyes stared from every side, drawing shoppers like moths to a ghoulish flame. Reese’s and Capri Sun joined the supernatural spectacle with spooky promotions – Reese’s tempting customers with the chance to win a chocolate bust filled with peanut butter (a devilishly delicious prize!), and Capri Sun hiding golden ghost packs worth £1,000 for lucky finders.
Brands embraced Tesco’s Halloween theme with zest. Mr Kipling, Rice Krispies “Scares,” and “Jaffaoween” Jaffa Cakes lined the shelves, each eerily transformed for the season. Meanwhile, 19 Crimes reanimated red wine bottles with transforming skeleton and mummy portraits, and Old El Paso paid homage to Día de los Muertos with a chillingly colourful display.
Diwali, meanwhile, whispered from Tesco’s own aisle fins and header boards, leaving the spotlight to Halloween for now.
MorrisonsBristol
In Morrisons, Halloween festivities took on a new form. The infamous Rice Krispies Scares held court with ghostly graphics, haunting the aisles with the scene of a spooky manor. Fanta’s Beetlejuice promotion made a lesser appearance in SRP form, but Butterkist cranked up the fright factor. Their wicked promotion promised a “thrillifying” trip to London for two lucky souls, with eerie SRPs, aisle fins, and a floor sticker to stop shoppers dead in their tracks.
Diwali did make a fleeting appearance, highlighted by Sharwood’s and Patak’s aisle fins, with Morrisons’ in-store formats reigning supreme, with floor stickers and hanging media aplenty.
AsdaBristol
Haunting Asda’s aisles, Halloween had its own spotlight section, hosting brands like Haribo, Cadbury, and Dr. Oetker. Wotsits beckoned with a giant full moon backdrop, daring shoppers to “grab spooky snacks” stacked to eerie heights. Capri-Sun’s golden ghost haunted Asda here, too, with its eye-catching FSDU.
Diwali, on the other hand, had a quieter presence, marked by a gondola end by Patak’s, offering a chance to win an Indian cooking masterclass. Asda also featured lots of activations for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with Coca-Cola, Warburtons, Heinz, and others sporting pink in solidarity, pledging portions of their proceeds to charity.
Sainbury'sBristol
Our last eerie encounter was at Sainsbury’s, where Halloween took full possession. The store was packed with fright and delight, with Haribo’s “monster approved” 3D headers creating a haunted scene of monstrous fun. Maynard’s flashing LED lights promised a “let the juice loose” moment, making shoppers stop in their tracks.
Kraken summoned the dark sea depths with a limited-edition rum display, tentacles ripping through pumpkins, while Fanta, Reese’s, and Heinz’s promotions lurked across the store. PepsiCo’s “scary pairings” paired crisps and drinks for a frighteningly good treat.
Sainsbury’s didn’t neglect Diwali, either; aisle fins from The Spice Tailor and Sharwood’s brought a well-timed burst of festive spice.
