Chocolate confectionery sales grew an estimated 6.6 percent in 2011, totaling approximately $19.5 billion in U.S. retail sales, driven in part by price increases that offset rising raw materials cost, according to Candy & Snack Today. For the full story, click here. For the full story, click here.
Editor’s Insight: The vending industry has not shared in the overall growth in retail chocolate candy sales. The Automatic Merchandiser State of the Vending Industry Report, to be published this month, will report that chocolate candy sales continued to decline, along with the overall candy/snack segment, due mainly to the recession.
Consumers continue to resist paying higher prices for products in vending machines, even while they accept higher prices in other retail outlets. This is because the vending industry has not marketed its value sufficiently, which is something that requires a significant investment in both new technology and marketing. 06-04-12 By Elliot Maras
