IRI confectionery monitor: positive development continues

According to the current IRI confectionery monitor, revenues rose by 7.0% up to € 2.315 bn, with sales volume only increasing 4.1% up to 303,406 tonnes (basis: food retailers + drug stores + hard discounters + gas station shops). Doubtless influenced by the pandemic-related measures, this positive development continued the strong growth that began in 2020 into the beginning of the new year.

The growth-driving category of salty snacks also experienced double-digit growth in January and February of 2021: € 675.2 m represented a revenue increase for the category of 12.9%, with sales quantity increasing by 9.2% up to 80,097 tonnes. Chocolate products (without season) increased earnings by 6.8% up to € 903.3 m (sales volume + 5.3%; 89,836 t). For the Christmas chocolate season, IRI calculated an increase in earnings of 8.4% up to € 653.4 m (sales volume + 9.1%; 37,648 t).
Similar development was seen in the product group of sweet baked goods and cakes. It exceeded the revenue level of the previous year by 7.1% up to € 408.9 m, while sales quantity here only rose by 1.9% (73,106 t).
Problems continued in the sugar confectionery and chewing gum product groups. While declines in sugar confectionery revenues (- 2.9%; € 328.0 m) and sales volume (- 1.3%; 60,368 t) remained manageable, the figures for chewing gum sank drastically, with a revenue decline of 25.5% (€ 57.5 m) and sales volume falling by 25.9% (38.9 million pieces).