Every year Halloween and trick or treating becomes more firmly entrenched on UK retail shelves.

While earlier in the week pumpkins were carved and adorned with candles, there have also been other supporting lines.

Sainsbury’s has been stocking non-edible multi-coloured Indian corn, which apparently is hung outside the door to welcome guests. It is is sourced from Greece at £2.50 for three.

It has also introduced a new topical twist with its Spanish clementines in an orange and purple carton at £2.75/kg, which can be adapted to make an eye mask.

Colombian physalis has been stripped out of its papery skin at Tesco, which is now stocking Ripe & Ready berries at £1.50/100g.

Stew packs, which have been around forever, start to come into their own as winter approaches, but Tesco has taken the concept a stage further with two new packs at £2 each specifically for soup enthusiasts.

Carrot and coriander, weighing 700g, consists of 51 per cent of the former, a measure of potatoes and onions, vegetable stock and 0.6 per cent of the herb. The other choice is leek and potato, weighing in at 600g with 39 per cent of each, plus stock and parsley.

Marks & Spencer is whetting customers’ appetites in another direction with a new range called Sizzle & Stir, promoting the preparation of dishes from India, Mexico and Morocco which can be added to wraps, tortillas and pittas respectively, all at £2.50.

There is certainly no dearth of information at Waitrose, which is giving its specially produced traditional white Fenland celery, grown by G’s, a boost at £1.19.

And Asda’s Extra Special range includes Lancashire-grown Tomkin, a small vine-ripened tomato at £1.50/220g. —