Diwali sees a 40-per cent decline in sweet sales
12 Nov 2007
A survey by Assocham of various sweet hubs in Delhi reveals that the average mithai sale dropped by over 40 per cent, even though sweet meat makers tried their best to sell a variety of sugar-free sweets. In lieu of sweets, the gifting trend this year showed a preference for assorted food articles rather than sweets, boosting their sales on account of durability and longer lasting preservations from a consumers'' point of view.
Non-edible gifts like bed sheets, crockery and portable electrical and electronics gadgets have also hit sales of ''mithai'', which was till some time ago, the traditional gift during Diwali, says Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).
Input cost drops can be estimated by the fall in Besan prices by 27 per cent this year, Sooji and Maida falling 18 per cent and 20 per cent respectively. Ghee, a key ingredient, was priced 12 per cent lower this year.
According to Assocham president Venugopal Dhoot, the trend is indicative of a widespread aversion to sweets that the Indian public has developed, mainly because of rising health consciousness and change in consumption pattern.
Popular Diwali gifts included electronics goods such as MP3 players, kitchen appliances, handsets, accessories, mobiles, computer games, glassware, clocks and casseroles.
Most sought after, according to the survey, are silver and gold coins, wrist watches, briefcases, brass and silver ware, candle stands, suit lengths, and electronics items like iPods, and DVD players.
The trend indicates that consumers have developed an aversion towards sweets, chiefly on account of a rising health consciousness, and a shift in the consumption pattern towards the aforementioned favourites.
