Strong year-end boosts French travel-retail sales

John Rimmer

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The AFCOV Index for 2005 shows year-on-year sales increases across all categories with the exception of tobacco

A strong final quarter in 2005 enabled the French travel-retail trade to post year-on-year sales increases in most product categories last year, according to the latest sales index from trade body Association Française du Commerce du Voyageur (AFCOV). The AFCOV Index, which charts sales across French airport, ferry and Eurotunnel operations, points to a "spectacular recovery" in the fragrances and cosmetics category, the association said.

Beauty sales in the last two months of 2005 were up by over 14% year on year, allowing the category to post yearly sales growth of nearly 6% compared with 2004. Sales of liquor and "other products"--including fashion, jewellery and watches--also enjoyed a strong finish to the year. In 2005 as a whole, French liquor sales were up by 2.7% on 2004. Sales of "other products" were up by 3%.

The AFCOV Index also measures sales per passenger. The association said that figures for the end of 2005 were "reassuring", with increases posted in beauty, liquor and "other products". Beauty sales per passenger were up by 8% in the final quarter of the year, a performance AFCOV described as "absolutely exceptional".

Tobacco sales, however, continue to decline in French travel-retail. Total sales were 4.77% down in 2005, with the final quarter showing a fall of about 7% compared with 2004.

Click here to view sales comparisons by category and sales per passenger 2005 versus 2004.