y performers for the food category, not prone to dynamic change. Price competition and inattention to the category have allowed sales to start slipping away.
Dollar sales for the sanitary napkin and tampon category declined a total of 4.52% for the latest 52-week period ended June 13. Declines in the food channel over the last couple of years have all fallen in that range. Dollar sales declined 4.38% in 2002 and 4.04% for the 52 weeks ended in December 2003.
Drug store sales, by comparison, grew incrementally over the same time period. Dollar sales for the drug channel increased 2% in 2002, 1.5% in 2003, and 2.27% in the latest 52 weeks ended in June. Total sales for the category in the drug channel of $441.5 million have far to go to catch up to the $711.4 million in sales in the food channel.
Within the subcategories, tampon holders declined the most, 32.69% in the food channel. Tampons declined 1.56%, and sanitary napkins and liners decreased 6.41%.
Dollar Sales Latest 52 Weeks Ended June 13, 2004; % Change; Dollar Sales Calendar Year Ended Dec. 28, 2003; % Change; Dollar Sales Calendar Year Ended Dec. 29, 2002; % Change