Mixed news in latest AFCOV Index

John Rimmer

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The French trade association's latest sales index reveals that sales in core categories remain sluggish, but other sectors have improved slightly

The Association Française du Commerce du Voyageur (AFCOV) has unveiled its latest sales index showing performance across France's travel-retail outlets. The third-quarter figures show that liquor, tobacco and beauty sales remain well below the corresponding period in 2003, although the summer welcomed an improvement in sales of other categories, including fashion, gifts and jewellery.

Turnover from the core liquor, tobacco and beauty categories?gathered together in the AFCOV Index?has been consistently down by over 10% year-on-year throughout 2004, and was down by over 12% in September. AFCOV said that tobacco sales in particular had suffered a "very sharp" fall, partly owing to last year's increase in French domestic duties. AFCOV also pointed to the strength of the euro as a concern. Turnover per passenger in liquor, tobacco and beauty is also well down on 2003 figures, and was over 15% down in September year-on-year.

For the first time in 2004, sales of "other products"?including fashion, gifts, jewellery and electronics?rose above 2003 levels this summer and were almost 10% up in July. Turnover per passenger in these categories also improved to come close to 2003 levels.

AFCOV noted that sales and sales per passenger have followed similar patterns throughout the year, suggesting that passenger profiles and behaviour are having a greater impact on turnover than traffic levels.

The AFCOV Index offers an indication of sales in travel-retail outlets across France, including airport outlets, ferries and the Eurotunnel operation in Coquelles, run by Aelia.

To view the latest AFCOV Index, click here