Free Subscription

  • Access daily briefings and unlimited news articles

Premium

Only $39.95 per year
  • Quarterly magazine and digital
  • Indepth executive interviews
  • Unlimited news and insights
  • Expert opinion and analysis

Throat lozenge and tissue sales trends

Winter is coming and so are cold and flu.

Recent study confirms this as sales of throat lozenges and tissues are at their annual peak during winter season.

In the 12 months ended March 2016, 36.2 per cent of Australians (14+ years old) bought tissues/paper handkerchiefs and 9.0 per cent bought throat lozenges/cough lollies in an average four-week period, based on Roy Morgan Research data. These figures have remained relatively stable over the last few years.

On a quarterly basis, the third quarter sees the highest increase in tissue and lozenge sales. Every year without fail, more Australians buy tissues and cough lollies during the July-September period than any other quarter. In 2015, for example: 14.0 per cent of Aussies bought cough lozenges and 39.7 per cent bought tissues in an average four-week period during the July-September quarter (as opposed to 5.6 per cent and 32.0 per cent, respectively) in the January-March quarter).

“Obviously, not all consumer goods follow a seasonal sales trend, but tissues and cough lollies are among those that do. The winter months in Australia bring a surge in sales of these products, as more people succumb to the cold and flu season,” Norm Morris, industry communications director, Roy Morgan Research, said.

Conversely, the proportion of people purchasing cough lollies drops steeply during the January-March quarter. Sales of tissues also slump at this time of the year, although the contrast is not as dramatic.

While colds and the flu don’t discriminate about who they affect, not all Australians are equally likely to buy tissues and cough lollies. At any time of year, a higher proportion of women than men buy these products, and during the peak July-September quarter, this pattern is especially apparent.

“Although women are considerably more likely than men to buy tissues and throat lozenges, this doesn’t necessarily mean that a higher proportion of them get sick in winter. Rather, with nearly six in every 10 grocery buyers being women, they’re probably more likely to purchase these items (particularly tissues) at the supermarket as part of their larger household shop,” said Morris.

Data also show that Aussies aged 35-49 years edge out the 65+ bracket as the age group most likely to buy throat lozenges. Meanwhile, more Aussies 65+ buy tissues than 35-49 year-olds.

You have 3 free articles.