The Passover shopping only began on Saturday night this year. Most shopping was in supermarkets and discount chains, said Osem deputy general manager Abraham Kringel today. He noted that Osem (TASE:OSEM) saw sales for Passover products were more than 10% higher than last year.
Kringel said much of the public preferred buying food for home consumption this year, rather that going out. He added that people went shopping for the holiday at the last moment, and that Osem expects the shopping will continue right up to the holiday eve.
Osem added that sales of kosher for Passover products rose significantly this year, with record demand from the UK and US. Osem exported over NIS 6 million shekels this year, 15% more than in 2002. Osem’s professional food services divisions - Nestle Israel and Nestle Food Service - reported a 30% increase in orders for Passover food by hotels across Israel. The kosher for Passover professional food market is estimated at NIS 100 million this year.
A TNS Teleseker survey commissioned by Osem found that over 73% of the Israeli public plans to gather with friends and relatives. Most of the public tends to buy prepared foods for the holiday; 73% will keep kosher, and avoid eating leavened foods; 21% said they do not keep kosher for Passover; and 5% will keep kosher in part.
In response to the question, “Which company do you buy most of your food from”, the answers were: Osem - 42%; Elite (TASE:ELEI1) 20%; Tnuva - 6.7%; Telma - 14%; and Vita - 3.6%.
The survey, commissioned by Osem, was conducted among 500 women aged 18 and over.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on April 15, 2003