FDBusiness.com

The Swiss chocolate industry returned to growth last year following a decline in 2009. Over the course of 2010, Switzerland’s 18 chocolate manufacturers increased volume sales by 1.3% to 176,424 tonnes while turnover across the industry rose 2.4% to SFr1.74b (Eur1.35b). The higher increase in sales turnover was partly due to the price adjustments necessitated by sharp increases in the cost of raw materials. Of total production, 60.4 % was sold abroad compared to 60.7 % in 2009.

Generally positive consumer confidence in Switzerland had a favourable impact on demand in 2010. Domestic sales for Swiss manufacturers rose 2.1% to 69,829 tonnes and value sales advanced 3.3% to SFr898m. The share of imported chocolates consumed on the home market dipped for the first time in nine years, amounting to 33.2 %, against 33.6 % in 2009. Domestic chocolate consumption totaled 93,975 tonnes, including imports but excluding cocoa and chocolate powder, giving an average of 12.0kg per capita, up 300g on 2009.

Despite the continuing strength of the Swiss franc, export sales grew by 0.8% to 106,595 tonnes. The rise in value was a little higher at 1.5% to reach SFr845m. The largest growth sectors were chocolate mini-formats (15.0 %) and solid chocolate bars with no added ingredients (12.8 %).

Germany, with a share of 15.8 %, is the largest of the 150 export markets served by the Swiss chocolate industry. The UK (13.2 %) is second, ahead of France (9.0 %) and Canada (7.3 %). Sales in the EU area as a whole were up by 6.2% in volume and by 2.7% in value in 2010. The main reason was the rising demand in Germany, where export volumes rose 23.6 %, generating an increase in sales value of 16.8 %. There was also significant sales growth as regards deliveries to Italy (up 25.5 % in volume and 18.7 % in value). Meanwhile, outside the EU, the Swiss chocolate industry was able to notch up impressive sales increases in Brazil, Israel, Canada and Saudi Arabia.