SECTOR EXPECT STABILITY IN EASTER SALES

Easter 2018 must register sales at the same level of the previous year to 50.0% of supermarket owners who participated in the study prepared by the Department of Economics and research of the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (OPEN), released today (1) national entity. The survey, determined in five Brazilian regions from January to February, points even though 32.9% of entrepreneurs are optimistic in relation to the data, and design better-than-estimated sales in 2017 (last year only 12.1% had this perception). However, for 17.1% of supermarket 2018 results will be lower than those presented in the previous year. Supermarket orders point to a nominal growth of 0.2% (the estimate in 2017 was-4.9%). Deflated by average variation of products surveyed, 2.5%, the real reduction should be-2.3% (last year this same expectation was in-7.7%). According to the President of the OPEN, João Sanzovo Neto, Easter search results show 2018 greater optimism of entrepreneurs over the past year. "When it comes to a post-crisis, businessmen and consumers remain balanced, but with a better perception of the economy. The Brazil out of crisis, the uncertainties come down, and with the fall in the unemployment rate and stability of inflation, the consumer is coming back to consume more, and this trend should remain at Easter and in the next few months ", says Sanzovo. Orders as well as in 2017, in relation to orders of chocolates, traditional retailers at the time preferred to be more cautious, and they bet on lower-value-added products, such as candy boxes of 400 grams (6.7%), chocolates (barra, Tablet , etc.) 6.0% and chocolates in General (3.8%). In relation to Easter eggs, only the smaller, up to 150 g, recorded increase in orders over the past year (0.5%). The rest recorded drop in orders: Easter eggs up to 500 grams (-3.0%) and Easter eggs from 150 g to 500 g (-1.6%). On the other hand, some products well sought after at the time had an increase in orders in 2018: beer (6.6%), olive oil (5.2%), fish in General (5.0%), soda (4.5%), imported wines (3.1%), cod (2.7%) and national wines (1.9%). Typical items, the only one who presented fall in orders in about 2017 was colomba pascal (-2.3%). Prices in relation to the variation in prices of products (energy industries) in comparison with Easter of 2017, was observed a reduction in fees paid in recent years. The biggest high was registered in bars/bars (3.4%), followed by the Bonbon boxes 400 g (3.2%), candy in General (2.8%). Among Easter eggs, one of the biggest price changes occurred in up to 150 g (3.2%). With regard to prices of the products (industry suppliers), the beers showed growth of 4.1% in estimates. Followed the fish in General (3.1%), oils (2.9%), soft drinks (2.5%) and cod (2.4%). Imports in General, due to the exchange rate, and the colomba pascal were the items that showed less variation in rates this year, 1.4% and 0.6%, respectively. Sales in relation to nominal sales expectations, the supermarket owners are betting on beer (6.6%). Easter eggs remain with real reduction estimates, however, with signs of recovery compared to the research of 2017. The Group of chocolates, nominal sales of candy box must grow 6.7%, with 3.4% real variation, according to estimates of the entrepreneurs. Colomba pascal is the only item that showed reduced sales expectations (nominal-2.3%, and real-2.9%).