Asia Pacific

Small local grocers in China includes a broad range of outlet types, from mom-and-pop stores to wet markets. After a year of significant decline in 2022, small local grocers returned to growth in 2023. This was mainly due to the end of COVID-19…

In 2023, small local grocers maintained a similar performance to that seen in previous years in Hong Kong, with further current value growth. The positive performance was helped by residential areas remaining a stable and strong source of domestic…

In 2023, small local grocers maintained dynamic current value growth in India, although outlet numbers stagnated for another year. This channel also continued to dominate value sales within grocery retailers in this year, accounting for three…

Small local grocers saw modest growth in current value terms in Indonesia in 2023. Besides continued economic pressures, the performance of the small local grocers channel has been restricted by consumers switching towards modern grocery retailers,…

Traditionally, Japanese consumers have enjoyed shopping in areas called Shotengai, where many small shops, including small local grocers, are lined up along the streets. Customers visit different specialist shops to buy their vegetables, fish, and…

One of the most important pandemic-related impacts on small local grocers was the huge shift towards working from home. This deprived many operators of an extremely important consumer base of busy, urban professionals looking for a quick and easy…

“Mama shops”, which are small local grocers in Singapore typically located within older and mature residential estates, used to be the cornerstone of grocery retailers in the local market. Such a traditional retail format used to thrive on the…

In 2023, small local grocers in South Korea saw yet another year of decline in both current value sales and outlet numbers. The channel has been encountering difficulties as consumer preference is tending to shift towards e-commerce and convenience…

Small local grocers in Taiwan recorded solid growth in value sales in 2023. The country boasts over 300 night markets, housing about 20,000 vendors and merchants, with a majority situated in towns and rural areas. These vibrant hubs represent the…

Current value sales for traditional small grocers in Thailand continued to rise in 2023, though at a significantly slower rate than in 2022, as the trend towards shopping in small stores close to homes continued. Small local grocers also benefit from…

While modern grocery outlets such as supermarkets and convenience stores, recorded stronger current value growth than small local grocers in the Philippines in 2023, the accessibility and traditional appeal of sari-sari stores meant that they…

Small local grocers have been finding it increasingly difficult to compete with other retail channels. In 2023 the rapid growth of convenience stores and the persistent rise in e-commerce purchases continued to take their toll on traditional grocery…

In 2023, e-vapour products in China witnessed an exceptional decline in retail current value sales, marking the lowest level of sales since 2014. This was due to the enforcement of “requirements of the Measures for the Administration of E-cigarettes”…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in the Philippines benefited from regulatory efforts in 2023. Thanks to the proliferation of legislation that oversees production and sale of vapour products, e-vapour products and heated…

E-vapour products recorded another year of strong double-digit current value growth in Indonesia in 2023. The strong growth of e-vapour products in the country was supported by both established brands and new players entering the market, driving the…

Heated tobacco in Japan continued to see double-digit growth in retail volume terms in 2023. Heated tobacco is regarded by consumers as a relatively lower harm option compared with cigarettes, and the weaker smell of these products compared with…

Heated tobacco products saw solid current value growth and moderate retail volume growth in 2023. Compared with cigarettes, the competitive price of heated tobacco benefits the category. In addition, wider availability in convenience stores,…

There was continued double-digit constant value growth for e-vaping in Pakistan in 2023. Its consumer base was made up of people looking to quit smoking, as well as younger consumers, mainly under 20 years of age, who often have never smoked and…

The Indian government took measures to prohibit direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, following its ratification of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the…

Retail volume sales of smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco plummeted in 2023, following the total ban of e-vapour products in Taiwan. However, heated tobacco products made strong progress from a low base. E-vapour products had…