IRI confectionery monitor: a dream start for salty snacks

Sales volume increased by 2.5% up to 273,743 tonnes (basis: food retailers + drug storess + hard discounters + gas station shops).

The salty snacks product group enjoyed a real dream start with revenue growth of 10.0% up to € 584.4 m and an increase in sales quantities of 8.5% up to 72,271 tonnes. In contrast, in the strongest category – chocolate products (without season) – the earnings of € 795.9 m only rose by 0.6% over the previous year’s target level. Sales volume even declined slightly with 79,884 tonnes (- 0.7%). The sub-segment of chocolate tablets fell significantly short of expectations (revenues - 3.8%; sales volume - 7.2%). Pralines (+ 2.0%; + 2.2%) and in particular bars (+ 7.4%; + 7.8%) compensated for these losses. For the Christmas chocolate season (September 2019 to January 2020) the market researchers calculated a revenue increase of 5.8% up to € 581,8 m, with increased sales volume of 7.8% up to 33,595 tonnes.

The product group of sweet baked goods & cakes almost achieved the same level as the first two months of 2019 with revenues of € 347.5 m (+ 0.1%) and sales volume of 65,021 tonnes (- 0.5%). And sugar confectionery surged forward for the first time in a long time with growth rates of 3.9% (€ 317.8 m) and 3.5% (56,566 t). The chewing gum segment increased earnings by 1.5% up to € 73.8 m despite a mild sales volume decline of 1.4% down to 50,162 million pieces.