Polish confectionery market booming

Photo: Glowimages

According to Leatherhead Food Research, the current estimated market value is 1.59 billion euros.

This is in spite of both high levels of immigration and a falling birth rate (Poland's birth rate fell from 2.04 births per woman in 1990 to 1.3 in 2009).

Chocolate products have a 71 percent share in the market.

In 2013, Poland's chocolate market saw 6 percent growth in current value terms, according to Euromonitor.

Mondelez Polska and Lotte Wedel notched up the biggest sales of chocolate confectionery in 2013, accounting for 15 percent and 11 percent of the current value share respectively.

Mondelez takes in favourites such as Milka (formerly Suchard), Prince Polo and Alpen Gold.

Home-grown favourite Wedel was nationalised following the Second World War, and later changed hands several times after 1989, and is currently owned by Lotte.

Of the confectionery dynasties that existed before the war, only Blikle has remained in the hands of the founding family, but it continues to flourish, with 12 outlets in Warsaw and 9 in other Polish cities. (nh)

Source: confectionerynews.com, euromonitor.com