Neighbours reveal taste for Swiss biscuits

Sales of Swiss biscuits rose by three per cent last year and profits were up by 4.6 per cent in 2007 following high demand from abroad.

Confectionery and biscuit manufacturers’ association Biscosuisse said that exports rose a record 18 per cent last year, with Germany and France in particular revealing a liking for Swiss products.

In all, 47,140 tons of biscuits were sold in 2007 with profits rising to SFr475.8 million ($454 million). The increase in both figures was entirely a result of exports, which came in at SFr150.8 million, said Biscosuisse.

Germany consumed 43 per cent of the 15,933 tons of biscuits exported, with France taking almost 19 per cent.

The domestic market stagnated with 31,207 tons of biscuits sold, roughly the same as in 2006.

However, overall, the national consumption of biscuits rose 1.6 per cent to the equivalent of 6.6kg a year – 100 grams more than in the previous year.

The figures take into account sweet biscuits as well as savoury crackers. The Swiss biscuit industry is made up of 21 manufacturers and employs around 2,200 people.