Real chocolate has the advantage

Chocolate figure sales augmented in both value and volume in the 2010 Christmas season – according to data from Nielsen. More valuable real chocolate pushed forward against nougat. Andrea Szabó, Nestlé Hungária Kft.’s junior brand manager told Trade magazin that approximately 80 percent of sales is realised in modern retail channel. Bigger manufacturers’ branded products lost some of their market share to smaller chocolate figure makers. Nestlé remained then market leader with a 25.1-percent value share and a 18.8-percent volume share. Ilona Halászné Boldizsár, product manager of Bonbonetti Kft. informed us that the company performed well in the last Christmas season. High-quality seasonal products are less price sensitive because a good price-value ratio makes their tibi and Disney Santa Claus figures and their Christmas fondant candies attractive. Santa Claus bags with toys belong to the higher price category: sales have been declining in the last few years. Bags with just chocolate inside also lost some of their market share in 2010 but they still had 15 percent in terms of value. This year Nestlé will come out with two new bags of sweets in 90g version under the BOCI brand: Marzipan Balls and Spicy Christmas Milk Chocolate Balls. In hypermarkets Nestlé will be present with filled brand displays, while in smaller shops different products will be placed in the same cardboard holders. On August 22 a BOCI promotion was launched, which lasts until 11 December. Those who send back the barcodes of BOCI products will play for the HUF 8 million main prize and weekly prizes. Bonbonetti’s tibi milk chocolate figures are made from special milk chocolate and contain less than 40 percent sugar; special dark chocolate with 60-percent cocoa content is used for dark chocolate figures. Bonbonetti’s tibi bags with puppets are successful every season and there is stable demand for Disney mugs and colouring sets as well. In line with consumer trends, Bonbonetti Gel, Butter Caramel, Marzipan and Consume fondant candies will be coated with dark chocolate; Cocoa, Apricot-Yoghurt, and Rum-Raisin will have milk a chocolate coating. A new fondant candy, tibi KID (Raspberry-Yoghurt) was developed for children. Nosztalgia premium fondant candies will appear in shops in Gerbeaud version.