• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Retailpumpkin spice

No, We Haven’t Gone Overboard With the Pumpkin Spice Flavor

By
Anne VanderMey
Anne VanderMey
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Anne VanderMey
Anne VanderMey
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 27, 2017, 1:17 PM ET

The flavor of pumpkin, once mostly reserved for pies and produce, has recently crept into every imaginable crevice of American cuisine.

Since Starbucks launched its cult-classic gourd-flavored drink in 2003, the onslaught of pumpkin-spice also-rans has come to include M&Ms, Cheerios, Pepperidge farm Milanos, the Republic of Tea, HIT Supplements whey protein, Clif Bars, and Jet-Puffed Marshmallows (to name just a few).

There are even non-edible pumpkin-spiced products: Hello, PSL deodorant.

But the explosion of fall feeling has its limits. According to Nielsen, growth in pumpkin flavoring has slowed. Sales of pumpkin-flavored products are expected to hit $414 million this year, according to the firm’s estimates.

Pumpkin spice products ranging from cookies and donuts to candy and air freshener.John Bazemore—AP
John Bazemore—AP

That’s an all-time high, and 6% higher than last year’s fall season, but it’s less of an uptick than the pumpkin products saw the year before (10% growth). Or the year before that (also 10%). And it’s almost stagnant compared to the year-over-year increase between 2012 and 2013 (up 20%).

Plus, despite the Starbucks-induced craze, it’s still old-fashioned pies that make up the bulk of pumpkin flavor sales. Of the following list of items, which constitute 80% of pumpkin revenue, pies still take the lead. (The rest are admittedly weirder.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYOPXw0lucO/?hl=en&taken-by=junkbanter

Pumpkin Pie Filling

Pumpkin Flavored Cream

Pumpkin Flavored Dog Food

Pumpkin Flavored Coffee

Pumpkin Baked Bread

Pumpkin Flavored Cereal

Pumpkin Baking Mix

Pumpkin Flavored Liquid Coffee

Pumpkin Yogurt

Pumpkin Fresh Desserts

So enjoy your pumpkin spiced food flavoring spray while you can. Like autumn’s temperate climes too-quickly give way to Peppermint-mocha Frap season, it won’t be long the fickle nation turns its weary eyes to the Maple Pecan Latte.

A version of this article appears in the Oct. 1, 2017 issue of Fortune.

About the Author
By Anne VanderMey
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Retail

AsiaMitsubishi
How an MBA internship led Mitsubishi to e-commerce platform Yami—and into the U.S. snacks market
By Nicholas GordonMarch 20, 2026
7 hours ago
Melissa Ben Ishay attends The Build Series to discuss Baked By Melissa at AOL HQ on October 14, 2016 in New York City.
C-SuiteFood and drink
Baked by Melissa’s founder was fired at 24. Two decades later, she’s ‘so freaking thrilled’ to step down as CEO
By Eva RoytburgMarch 19, 2026
17 hours ago
Stephan Winkelmann, wearing a dark blue suit, speaks in front of a black background with the Lamborghini logo on it.
RetailAutos
Lamborghini is selling a record number of cars—but tariffs are eating its profits
By Sasha RogelbergMarch 19, 2026
1 day ago
wine barrels
LawFood and drink
Argentines once drank 90 liters of wine a year. Now they’re down to 15 — and 1,100 vineyards have already closed
By The Associated Press and Clara PreveMarch 18, 2026
2 days ago
EconomyRestaurants
McDonald’s newest $3 value menu is sounding an alarm about America’s K-shaped economy
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMarch 17, 2026
3 days ago
amazon
RetailAmazon
Amazon goes from free fast delivery to $14.99 within the hour
By Anne D'Innocenzio and The Associated PressMarch 17, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.