IRI monitor: mild increase in early 2019

According to the current IRI confectionery monitor, sales volume increased overall by 1.1% to a quantity of 262,008 tonnes. Total retail confectionery revenues rose by 2.4% up to € 1.94 bn (basis: food retailers + drug stores + hard discounters + gas station shops).

Once again the salty snacks product group stood out with above-average rates of increase. 65,478 tonnes and € 521.5 m represented an increase for the sector of 5.8% and 7.3%, respectively. Only the sweet baked goods sector kept a comparable pace of growth with salty snacks this time enjoying increased value of 5.7% up to € 218.4 m (sales volume + 1.9%).

Development with chocolate products was differentiated in the first two months of the year. While the sub-segment large tablets celebrated respective sales volume and revenue gains of 7.4 and 8.1% and praline specialities enjoyed a sales volume increase of 8.8% and revenue growth of 6.4%, giving chocolate tablets and pralines an increase overall, chocolate surprises and other chocolate products delivered a disappointing performance for the start of the new year.

Sugar confectionery sales fell far below the rate of the previous year, with the greatest losses in the segment fruit gums/marshmallow candies/liquorice (- 3.4%, - 3.6%) and bonbons (- 5.4%, - 4.2%). While chewable candies, puffed rice and chocolate-coated jellies demonstrated some significant increases, they were nevertheless unable to fully compensate for the overall negative trend with sugar confectionery.