Confectionery dollar sales slowed considerably during the four week period ending October 4, 2009.  This is a result of industry price increases that took place in the fall of 2008.  Current sales beginning with the September period are reflecting the comparison of prices against last year’s higher prices.  If you recall, a number of industry price increases took effect in August and September of 2008 due to a run-up in commodity prices which have remained at high levels or are even higher, in the case of cocoa.

Fifty-two week dollar sales continue to show a 3.5 percent increase.  Chocolate candy sales have grown 3.2 percent; non-chocolate candy sales 4.6 percent; and gum sales 7.4 percent.  The October 4 period is too early to give an accurate read of Halloween sales so we will wait until the November reporting period ends to give a read on the key holidaysales.

Chocolate singles, up 7.9 percent; non-chocolate chewy candy, up 10.4 percent; licorice, up 6.8 percent; and sugar-free gum, up 9.6 percent are leading the category to the 3.5 percent overall sales increase. 

Supermarket sales have grown 4.3 percent; drug stores – 3.8 percent; and mass outlets – 0.3 percent during the past fifty-two weeks.  Convenience stores sales have grown 4.4 percent and IRI Panel data suggests that Wal-Mart sales have not grown.  Please note however, that the Wal-Mart data is panel data not retail sales data.


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