Airheads unveils Decoy Boy

Halloween isn’t just for kids anymore. 

This year, Airheads with the help of Highdive is crashing the candy barrier with Decoy Boy, the world’s first robotic trick-or-treating sidekick. Disguised as a costumed kid, Decoy Boy gives grown-ups the perfect social cover to go door-to-door, score candy, and relive their favourite Halloween tradition without the awkwardness of trick-or-treating solo.

For many adults, trick-or-treating was a highlight of their childhood, but then, at no fault of their own, they got older. A recent OnePulse survey showed that while virtually all adults loved trick-or-treating as kids, 87% of adults say it’s weird to trick-or-treat alone. These cherished childhood memories and this stat was all the motivation Airheads needed to launch a fully functional trick-or-treating robot in a wagon disguised as a costumed kid. Designed to be pulled from house to house, Decoy Boy is programmed to say “trick or treat!,” has a “persuasion dial” for those looking to get more than one piece and a “tantrum mode” for serious Airheads fans.

“Halloween should be fun for everyone, no matter your age or background,” said Chris Borges, Brand Director, Non-Chocolate Portfolio at Perfetti Van Melle, the maker of Airheads. “So we built the Decoy Boy to give anyone a way to embrace the spooky season and stock up on Airheads with a little extra flair and fun.”

The Decoy Boy is built to resemble a seven-to eight-year-old child and comes in three classic Halloween costumes: a ghost, wizard or Frankenstein. Each unit is battery-powered, rides in a rugged all-terrain wagon, and can carry up to 15 pounds of Airheads. The robot speaks pre-recorded Halloween phrases and adds just the right amount of eerie charm to pass for the real thing, especially from a front porch