- April value sales growth up +22 per cent and volume sales up +18 per cent compared with the same period in 2018
- Sales boost comes as iconic lozenge maker adds Spearmint Sugar-Free to pharmacy channel
Fisherman’s Friend is flying towards another successful year – recording value sales growth of +22 per cent and volume sales growth of +18 per cent in April, compared with the same period last year [i].
The iconic lozenge brand – which sold over 260 million lozenges worldwide during 2018 – said the sales boost follows an early start to the hay fever season with consistently high pollen counts for tree pollen. The Met Office has reported that this is the result of warm temperatures at the start of the year coupled with good weather for dispersal which triggered symptoms, with 10.7 million people buying a hay fever product in the first three months of 2019[ii].
“While the peak hay fever season occurs during the summer months, sneezes, itchy eyes and headaches have arrived earlier than expected this year,” says Jon R White, Regional Business Manager for Fisherman’s Friend in the UK. “Menthol and eucalyptus are known to help hay fever sufferers. Our iconic lozenges contain a third more menthol than rivals, and with nine flavours available, there’s a Friend for everyone. We would urge retailers and pharmacists to stock up now to ensure they are not missing out on a valuable sales opportunity during the remainder of the hay fever season.
“But as things stand, it looks like we are on track for another strong year in the UK – particularly as increased demand is coinciding with the launch of a brand-new Spearmint variety to the pharmacy channel.
“We will not be resting on our laurels though, and have strong trade promotions in the pipeline to prepare for the upcoming cold and flu season.”
[i] Ceuta Healthcare Ltd, in market sales data, April 2019
[ii] Kantar Worldpanel, April 2019
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