Market expanding, growth for milk chocolate

Retail sales of Easter sweets rose again last year. Sales were up by 7 percent in terms of quantity, and by 22 percent in terms of value. Total sales were HUF 2.7 billion in 2008. Milk chocolate retained its market lead in front of nougat, further increasing its market share as a result of smaller manufacturers which focus on nougat recording a drop in sales. Rabbits and eggs accounted for 42 percent of sales respectively in 2008. The market share of traditional Easter packages has been shrinking for years, dropping to 7 percent in 2008. The market share of packages which come with gifts was also down to 4 percent in terms of quantity. Sales are increasingly concentrated in hyper markets, which accounted for 59 percent of total sales in terms of quantity last year, with discounts and supermarkets accounting for another 26 percent.