German confectionery market: Summer sales slow

German confectionery sales in July and August 2006 were down on the previous year. According to the latest IRI monitor, cumulative sales for the first eight months of the current year were up by only 0.4% to total € 5.428 bn. After the first half year IRI had confirmed growth of 2.2%. Sales of chocolate confectionery (not including chilled bars or seasonal) between January and August were worth € 2.339 bn (+0.6%). Chocolate bars underperformed, with sales down by 0.8%. Surprise item sales rocketed by 28.8%, while sales of chilled bars climbed 8.8%.


A decline in sales of sweets (-3.1%) and fruit gums/licorice (-3.6%) resulted in an overall 2.8% dip in sugar confectionery sales down to € 984.9 m. Dry baked goods sales rose by 0.7% compared with the same period the year before, up to € 1.598 bn. Surprisingly slow sales of salty snacks were confirmed for July and August. IRI had reported growth of 7.8% for the first six months of the year; by the end of August growth had slowed down to 5.4%. It seems the 2006 World Cup did not drive sales as strongly as expected. Sweet biscuit (not including wafer bars) sales were clearly below previous year levels (-4.9%)