Fondants in bags still most popular

According to data from GfK Hungária ConsumerScan, the market of seasonal sweets for Christmas shrunk last year, with sales of fondants down by 14 percent and chocolate Santa Claus figures down 11 percent. The market share of private labels was also reduced. Sales of brand products were down by 10 percent in terms of value in the above period, while sales of private labels shrunk by 22 percent. Reduction in terms of quantity was even more substantial, with sales of private labels down by nearly a third and that of brand products shrinking by 20 percent. While private labels had accounted for 16 percent of total sales in 2006, this was down to 13 percent in the October 2007–January 2008 period. Among different forms of packaging, only bags produced growth in the 2007 season, accounting for nearly two-thirds of totals sales in terms of quantity. This was mainly due to stagnating price, which had remained unchanged for three years. The average price of fondants in boxes had risen by 8 percent in the same period. Hyper markets account for the largest part of sales in the fondantcategory, with a 37 percent market share in terms of quantity. Sales of Christmas chocolate figures were down by 11 percent in the 2007 season, compared to 2006. The 8 percent rise in average price was not sufficient to compensate for shrinking demand. Household spending on this category was down by 3 percent compared to 2006.