How Reese’s Plans to Make Contactless Trick or Treating the New Normal

To keep the trick-or-treating spirit alive this year, Reese’s has designed a robotic door to deliver Peanut Butter Cups to neighborhood citizens. Reese’s Trick-or-Treat Door is designed to provide its visitors with a contactless way of receiving treats this Halloween season.

Whether trick-or-treaters will be wearing protective masks or monster masks this season, they will be able to receive Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups by saying “trick or treat” to a robotic door that travels from house-to-house. Social distancing and COVID-19 protocols have created a new norm this Halloween season, but confectionary companies are still hoping to make the best of this candy-centric holiday, which historically brings in more revenue than Christmas.

“This Halloween is unlike any other, so we’ve upped the ante on creativity as a result,” said Allen Dark, Reese’s senior brand manager, in a statement. “A robotic Reese’s dispensing door is just what the world needs right now!”

The robotic door is designed to traverse through neighborhoods via remote control and bring candy to people’s doorsteps. The Halloween soundtrack, smoke and lights that come along with it will let people know that the door is approaching their front porch. The door will dispense king-sized Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups when it hears someone say, “trick or treat.”

The door is operated using three motors, which are directed by a remote control that can be used up to 5,000 feet away from the device, meaning no human nearby is required. It is 9 feet tall and has a built-in Bluetooth speaker. The king-sized candy bar will appear through a mail slot from a retractable shelf.

New data suggests that Halloween is still happening around the world this year and Americans are ready to creatively contribute to a safe experience throughout October. According to a poll conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the National Confectioners Association (NCA), 74 percent of millennial moms and young parents say that Halloween is more important than ever this year.

“Consumers report that they will be getting creative throughout October to make sure that they can stay safe and still enjoy the Halloween season,” said John Downs, president & CEO of the NCA. “The results of our research reveal a deeply rooted enthusiasm for Halloween, even if it means that people have to rethink their approach this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Americans enjoy chocolate and candy two to three times per week. The research found that 75 percent of Americans agree that chocolate and candy are integral to consumer’s emotional well-being, thus confectionary treats play a big part in celebratory events throughout the year, not least of which is Halloween.

Reese’s is making use of its social following by encouraging consumers to go to Reese’s Instagram account and use the hashtag #ReesesDoor to tell them where they would like the interactive door to make an appearance. At the time of writing, this hashtag has been used in more than 100 posts already and is growing in popularity.