Nielsen monitor: 2018 off to a positive start thanks to Easter products

Year-round products experienced a slightly ebbing trend during the first two months (sales - 1.1%; volume - 2.8%), while seasonal products saw significant growth rates for both sales (+ 48%) and volume (+ 43.2%). Upon closer inspection into the individual categories, a mixed picture becomes apparent: salty snacks (€ 522.5 m) and chocolate products (€ 994.3 m) increased revenues by 3.1% and 2.4%, respectively. Sales declined in the product groups fine baked goods (- 1.6%; € 264.4 m) and sugar confectionery (- 3.6%; € 450.7 m).

Confectionery sales within the individual sales channels: the slight growth was powered by large consumer markets (+ 3.6%) and small consumer markets (+ 3.2%), cooperating discount stores (+ 2.2%) and drug stores (+ 7.4%). Large supermarkets (- 2.5%) and small supermarkets (- 10.9%), discount stores Aldi/Lidl/Norma (- 1.5%), impulse channels and gas station shops (- 8.3%) as well as department stores (- 7.9%) saw declines.