Swiss chocolate sales fell 14.3% in the first eight months of the year as the COVID-19 pandemic hit travel retail and the industry’s business with hotels and restaurants - Reuters reports.
According to the Reuters, the decline was even more marked in the four months to August, at 21.5%, with both domestic sales and exports hit, industry association Chocosuisse said in a statement on Tuesday.
Over 70% of Swiss chocolate is exported, with business particularly affected this summer by the downturn in travel and tourism, said the association, which counts Barry Callebaut and Lindt & Spruengli among its members. Switzerland’s chocolate industry generated sales of 1.787 billion Swiss francs ($1.97 billion) in 2019 - Reuters reports.