High Sales of Matzo, Kosher Wine Expected as U.S. Consumers Prepare for Passover...

High Sales of Matzo, Kosher Wine Expected as U.S. Consumers Prepare for Passover Celebrations, Nielsen Reports

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--(Business Wire)--
As consumers prepare to celebrate the Jewish festival of Passover,
high retail sales are expected for matzo, kosher wine and other items
traditional to holiday celebrations and the Passover Seder, the ritual
dinners held on the first two nights of Passover. According to The
Nielsen Company:

-- Consumers are expected to spend more than $3.5 million(1) on
matzo, the traditional unleavened bread, during the holiday
week. The week leading up to Passover is the highest sales
week for matzo, and the second highest sales week for matzo
meal/mixes, with more than $822,000 in sales expected.

-- More than 1.3 million bottles, or $6.5 million(2) in sales of
kosher table wine, a traditional part of the Passover Seder,
will be sold during the four weeks leading up to Passover,
representing approximately 15 percent of the year's total
sales. More than two-thirds will be sold during the two week
period just before and during the Passover holiday.

-- Horseradish sales are also strong with more than $1.7 million
expected during Passover week. Many celebrants use horseradish
as maror, a bitter herb that is a traditional part of the
Seder Plate.

-- Senior couples, or two person (age 65 and above) households
with no children living in mid and upscale, densely populated,
ethnically diverse urban centers(3) show the highest
consumption of matzo, matzo meal mixes and kosher wine.

About The Nielsen Company

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leading market positions in marketing information (ACNielsen), media
information (Nielsen Media Research), online intelligence (NetRatings
and BuzzMetrics), mobile measurement, trade shows and business
publications (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek). The
privately held company is active in more than 100 countries, with
headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and New York, USA. For more
information, please visit, www.nielsen.com.

(1) All dollar figures represent sales in U.S. food, drug and mass
merchandiser stores, including Wal-Mart, for the week ending 4/7/07.

(2) Based on sales in U.S. food, drug and combined major liquor
markets for the four weeks ending 4/7/07.

(3) As defined by Spectra, a service of The Nielsen Company.

The Nielsen Company
Jennifer Frighetto, 847.605.5686
jennifer.frighetto@nielsen.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008