Swiss cut back on imported chocolate but eat a little more Swiss chocolate: 12 kg per person
Swiss chocolate makers are smiling despite the high franc
Zurich, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Key companies in three Swiss industries whose business is linked to the country’s reputation, have noted, noted Tuesday 8 February that while the strong franc has not helped them, they are upbeat about the outlook for 2011, after good figures for 2010.
Swatch, the country’s largest watchmaker, the chocolate industry, and Givaudin, the Geneva-based fragrance company, saw good sales growth in 2010.
Swatch Tuesday 8 February confirmed its 2010 figures and published its forecast for 2011, saying it expects to achieve sales of CHF10 billion, up from CHF6.44b in 2010.
“The current outlook for 2011 appears positive, despite the unfavorable currency constellation at present, particularly the US Dollar and the Euro against the Swiss Franc”, the company notes in a press release.
Chocosuisse, the chocolate industry’s group of 18 major producers, said sales were up 2.4 percent in 2010 to CHF1.74b, after falling in 2009. Swiss chocolate accounts for 66.8 percent of the country’s chocolate, and for the first time in nine years the share of imported chocolate slipped slightly. The Swiss are eating more chocolate, however, adding to the manufacturers’ good news. The 300 grams extra a year consumed by the Swiss brings annual consumption up to 12 kg per person a year.
Givaudin’s chief executive told the Wall Street Journal in an interview that the company’s sales were up 7.1 percent in 2010 in Swiss francs, to CHF4.2 billion. The company sees little impact from the strong franc on its operating profits because it buys and sells in the same markets, he notes.
The Swiss ate a little less chocolate in 2009.
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – You know the economy is in trouble when the Swiss cut back on their chocolate, and they did, in 2009: consumption fell by 700 grams per person. That’s the equivalent of seven of those 100 gram tablets for which the Swiss are particularly famous outside the country, the kind that fit neatly into the pocket of a ski jacket or backpack for Alpine and lakeside trips. The one growth area, up 3 percent, was small chocolate bars.
Domestic sales fell by 6.9 percent, says Chocosuisse, to 68,375 tons. An extended warmer than usual summer and a fall in the number of tourists played roles, but the Swiss were “cautious” and bought less chocolate, and cheaper products.
Domestic consumption was nevertheless 11.7kg per person, powdered chocolate and cocoa excluded, based on overall consumption of 91,330 tons of chocolate. Imports rose to one-third of total chocolate consumed: most imported chocolate is low-price products.
Chocosuisse, which is the association of the country’s 18 largest chocolate manufacturers issued its figures for 2009 Wednesday morning 10 February.
Domestic and export sales were both down in 2009, the first time in six years that chocolate-makers did not sell more than the previous year.
Chocolate bar, Swiss Alps
Boosting the economy with chocolates
Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The news is pretty short and sweet: while the world economy spiraled downward last year one industry saw the kind of growth other industries would like to have a chunk of, sales of Swiss chocolate rose as solidly as, say, a bar of dark chocolate, to 184,969 tons worldwide.
Sales were up 2% and net turnover 9.3%.
