ACNielsen monitor: early Easter generates first quarter growth

ACNielsen has reported significant growth of 2.6% in sales of confectionery in Germany during the first 13 calendar weeks of 2005. The fact that Easter this year fell within the first quarter 2005 qualifies the result slightly. Overall sales between January and March 2005 totalled € 2.113 bn,.
Sales in food retail stores were strong, rising by 3.8% to € 1.577 bn. Aldi confectionery sales (not including chocolate-coated marshmallows, fruit gums, licorice and mallow products) rose only very slightly by 0.5% to total € 378 m. Impulse channel sales (not including sweet biscuits and puffed rice) dipped 4.2% down to € 159m.