IRI confectionery monitor: upturn in July and August

The current IRI confectionery monitor reports a revenue increase of 4.5% up to € 9.599 bn for the first eight months, along with at least a slight increase in sales volume of 0.8% (1.248 m tonnes) compared to the same period in the previous year (basis: food retailers + drug stores + hard discounters + gas station shops).
Above-average growth was registered in the chocolate products category (without season), with revenues climbing by 5.6% up to € 3.843 bn, and sales volume rising by 2.0% up to 372,564 tonnes. Growth drivers here were pralines in particular, with an increase in revenues of 10.3% (sales volume + 5.9%). Salty snacks registered € 2.616 bn, signifying an increase in sales earnings of 4.2% (sales volume + 1.0%; 309,085 tonnes). For the sweet baked goods & cake category through the end of August IRI registered revenue growth of 3.8% up to € 1.812 bn. However, sales volume decreased by 0.4% down to 323,742 tonnes.

Sugar confectionery suppliers gained ground. After still registering a slight decrease at the half-year mark (- 0.4%) at the end of the first eight months of 2021, revenues had increased by 2.6% up to € 1.327 bn (sales volume + 0.7%; 242,228 tonnes). The chewing gum segment however increased only as part of the general upwards trend. The segment’s revenues for the period of € 279.3 m were still running at a significant 7.8% below the level of the previous year (sales volume - 9.2%; 188.7 million pieces).