Israelis will eat 23 million oznei haman (hamantaschen) over the Purim holiday, 5-6% more than last year. Spending on oznei haman will total NIS 31 million, after a 5% price hike, compared with Purim last year.
Seven million oznei haman, mostly filled with chocolate, will be eaten at children’s Purim parties. This year’s innovations include black-and-white, coffee-filled, and date-filled oznei haman, premium oznei haman made with butter, sugarless oznei haman and mini-oznei haman that weigh just 25 grams. The mini-oznei haman follow on the Hannukah mini-sufganiot, which the has become a popular product.
A Manufacturers Association of Israel study among bakeries found that the price hike for oznei haman was caused by higher prices for ingredients, especially flour and oil, as well as higher labor costs.
Bakeries said the favorite fillings for oznei haman were poppy seed, dates, walnut cream, and chocolate. Other fillings include strawberry and halva.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on March 1, 2007
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