Chocolate industry experiences recovery

Switzerland’s chocolate makers showed moderate growth in terms of quantity and turnover last year, after a decline in sales in 2009.

Chocosuisse, the umbrella organisation of 18 manufacturers, reported on Tuesday that sales went up by 2.5 per cent to SFr1.74 billion ($1.82 billion), while the quantity produced increased 1.3 per cent to 176,424 tons.

In a statement, the Bern-based organisation said that of total production, 60.4 per cent was sold abroad compared with 60.7 per cent in 2009.

Chocosuisse said that the generally positive consumer confidence in Switzerland had a “favourable” impact on demand for chocolate products in 2010.

However, it added that the increase in sales was also influenced by rain in the early summer and the changeable weather pattern of the late summer and autumn.

The rise in tourist numbers also had an “encouraging” effect on sales.

Chocosuisse noted that the domestic chocolate production of 93,975 tons, including imports but excluding cocoa and chocolate powder, worked out to an average consumption of 12kg per capita, up 300g on the 2009 figure.

The share of imported chocolate consumed on the home market dipped for the first time in nine years, amounting to 33.2 per cent (33.6 per cent in 2009).