Sales were up 4 percent in value and 2 percent in volume last year

According to the Nielsen Retail Index, retail sales of Christmas seasonal sweets was in the HUF 2.5 billion zone in the last three years. In the November 2010-January 2011 period 4 percent more such sweets were sold than in the same period a year earlier; in volume sales the 740 tons represented a 2-percent increase. Chocolate Santa Claus figures have been the most popular for years: in the examined period they realised 54 percent of total sales. Traditional Santa Claus packages stood firm at number two position with a 15-percent share from total sales. Advent calendars’ are coming up as their market share grew from 8 percent to 11 in the last three seasons. Milk chocolate products had a 74-percent share of the seasonal market, just like a year earlier. Volume weighted average price was HUF 4,498 in November and HUF 3,865 in December. We bought 57 percent of our Christmas sweets in hypermarkets; 51-200m² stores’ share grew from 10 to 11 percent.