Consumer Health

In a reversal of the trend witnessed over 2021-2022, all digestive remedies categories in Morocco are set to record improved performances in volume growth terms in 2023. Demand for several product types has increased as lifestyles have become busier…

Inadequate sanitation and hygiene significantly contribute to digestive problems among consumers. Rural areas face even greater challenges in accessing clean water, exacerbating the issue. While some urban regions also contend with these issues,…

Since 2022, South Africa has been suffering from rolling electricity blackouts. The scheduled blackouts can often occur in some areas around two to three times a day. Moreover, these blackouts often occur during mealtimes. This has created a strong…

Laxatives looks set to be the most dynamic category in digestive remedies in 2023 in Tunisia in current value terms. This growth is linked to various factors, including changes in lifestyle and dietary patterns, with consumers leading busier lives…

Egypt has a hot and dry climate, and this causes many consumers to suffer from dry eye. Additionally, an increasing population uses screens while working in an air-conditioned environment, which can further exacerbate dry eye symptoms.

Eye care has continued to expand at a healthy pace in 2023, with volume and current value growth rates expected to be well up on 2022. This is primarily due to buoyant demand in standard eye care, which is by far the largest of the two main…

Overcrowding and poor hygiene standards in certain areas of the country have increased the prevalence of cataracts, glaucoma and trachoma, a potentially blinding eye disease caused by bacterial infection. This has led to an increase in demand for OTC…

During 2023, more consumers suffered from eye health issues due to much more time spent using technology, such as computers and laptops. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, children were unable to go to school or workers to their workplace and…

Herbal/traditional products are expected to register positive current value and volume growth in 2023. Consumers are becoming concerned about the side effects of other OTC consumer health products. They appreciate the natural properties of…

Herbal/traditional product registered a marginal fall in current value sales in 2023. While the older generation have always favoured herbal/traditional products, among the younger generation, there exists a level of scepticism regarding their…

Rising health consciousness is boosting sales of herbal/traditional products in Egypt. Urban areas tend to have higher levels of health consciousness, with individuals actively seeking ways to enhance their health and prevent ailments. Herbal teas…

Despite the increased use of systemic medication, herbal/traditional products are popular among Kenyans and are available through both formal and informal channels. In some instances, herbal/traditional products are perceived as more effective than…

In line with rising health-consciousness, many consumers in Morocco are becoming more concerned about the side effects, contraindications and potential hazards of active pharmaceutical ingredients widely used in OTC and Rx medications. This has…

Herbal/traditional products remain a popular consumer health category amongst Nigerian consumers and continued to perform well in 2023. Traditional medicines hold a significant role in Nigeria, with many traditional remedies passed down through…

Since the pandemic, consumers have slowly begun to prioritise their health and wellness. This in turn has led to growing sales of herbal/traditional products. For example, Clicks stocks a brand called Sela. Sela is a tea bag brand that is available…

Despite being considered a relatively niche area, herbal/traditional paediatric dietary supplements is witnessing growing demand. Parents and guardians are increasingly seeking natural and holistic approaches to support their children's health and…

In addition to showing an improved performance in current value growth terms, NRT smoking cessation aids is poised to record a return to growth in volume sales in 2023 following a decline in 2022. Demand has been bolstered by significant increases in…

NRT smoking cessation aids is a small category in South Africa and only relevant to a small consumer group. Since, 2022 NRT gum has been the only product type that has been available locally over the counter. Other products such as NRT patches are…

As the population aged 0-12 continues to rise, paediatric consumer health is expected to register growth in 2023 in both volume and current value terms, with nappy (diaper) rash treatments leading the way, followed by paediatric vitamins and dietary…

Paediatric consumer health registered moderate current value growth in 2023, partly supported by continuing population growth. Essential consumer health products such as cough, cold and allergy remedies, as well as analgesics, were the most popular…

Developing and marketing products specifically for paediatric use involves adherence to strict regulatory requirements in Egypt. These regulations are in place to ensure the safety, efficacy, and appropriate dosing of products for children. The…

When the health of their children is concerned, Kenyan parents are generally hesitant to take risks and experiment with new brands. They tend to adhere to established brands that have undergone thorough testing and come highly recommended by medical…

Growth in paediatric consumer health current value sales in 2023 is expected to surpass that recorded in 2022, as are volume growth rates for all product categories. This improvement is partly attributable to relatively high birth rates in Morocco,…

Sales of paediatric consumer health products are driven by parents being inclined to invest more to secure the best medication for their children, especially for infants. In this context, imported brands hold greater appeal as they are often…

Despite the tough economic landscape in South Africa and the cost of living crisis in the country consumers continue to purchase paediatric consumer health products. During the review period, consumers cut down on discretionary spending and were even…

Paediatric vitamins and dietary supplements in Tunisia is experiencing remarkable growth in current value terms in 2023. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the significant presence of both locally produced and imported…

Sleeping pills are in high demand in Egypt, leading to double-digit retail value growth in 2023. Sleep problems are very common in the country, with many people struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, impacting their daily lives. Sleeping pills can…

Sleep aids has shown another solid performance in 2023, with volume and current value growth rates set to surpass those recorded in 2022. Demand been buoyed by the easing of the pandemic, in that Moroccans have become more likely to experience…

In South Africa, many consumers take their mental health very seriously. Mental awareness and assistance for those experiencing mental health problems is easily available in South Africa through various channels. For example, people have access to…

Demand for sports nutrition products is set to increase in 2023 driven by increased gym membership and a growing cohort of consumers that are passionate about being fit. Demand for sports nutrition is not only confined to body building, but also for…

Value sales of sports nutrition are negligible and it is not expected that the situation will change over the forecast period.

The health and wellness trend encourages a holistic approach to health, considering the lifestyle and habits of a person rather than focusing solely on physical symptoms. It recognises that various aspects of life, including nutrition, exercise,…

In Kenya, sports nutrition is rapidly advancing and enjoyed robust current value growth in 2023. This momentum is driven by the rising health and wellness trend, with individuals increasingly acknowledging the importance of a healthy lifestyle and…

Sports nutrition is underdeveloped in Morocco, with the appeal of such products remaining relatively narrow and only two categories having visible sales. Nonetheless, it continues to expand at an impressive pace, and looks set to post improved…

For many sports enthusiasts, sports nutrition is a vital part of their daily nutritional routine. Many consumers who use sports nutrition are generally active gym users or even play a sport. Sports nutrition products provide those who are exercising…

First Class Distribution is a new player that has emerged in sports nutrition in Tunisia in 2023. This company has gained prominence with it becoming the exclusive distributor of the Optimum Nutrition brand, which was previously distributed by Aecor…

Vitamins are expected to register positive current value and volume growth in 2023. Though the boon from the pandemic is over, many consumers have now adopted the habit of taking vitamins as a preventative health measure. That being said, sales are…

With the fear of the pandemic subsiding and the escalating cost of living seeing consumers prioritising essentials, the demand for vitamins has witnessed a deceleration in growth. While still favoured by higher-income consumers, the majority of…

Vitamins continue to witness strong performance, continuing the positive trend seen across the entire review period, with a double-digit retail sales growth noted in 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted vitamin sales as consumers became more aware of…

Vitamins is witnessing healthy volume growth in 2023 despite high inflation. Rising health consciousness in Kenya, which was bolstered by the pandemic, is leading to increased demand for vitamins. Multivitamins are one of the most popular products,…

Demand for vitamins in Morocco has remained buoyant in 2023, with total volume sales set to increase at a faster rate than in 2022. This improvement has been supported by continued growth in the number of consumers taking these products as a…

During the outbreak of COVID-19, consumers were buying vitamin products as a preventive measure. In addition, there was a widespread belief that Vitamin C could enhance the immune system and reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. However, with the…

During the review period, more consumers have prioritised their skin care. Despite the economic difficulties, consumers are still purchasing skin care products as there are various skin care ranges both locally and internationally that have a wide…

Tunisia is currently experiencing a shortage of vitamin A due to the fact that the main products that are distributed in the country are imported by the Central Pharmacy, but these are in short supply. This shortage has created challenges in meeting…

In 2023, weight management and wellbeing is set to post positive value and volume growth. This is primarily fuelled by rising obesity rates and growing awareness of the many health risks associated with being overweight or obese. Thus, there is a…

Values sales continued to be low for weight management and wellbeing, but there was healthy growth. Obesity is a growing issue in Cameroon and this supported value and volume growth. Also, culturally, curvier women were traditionally perceived as…

Unhealthy eating habits acquired during COVID-19 lockdowns continue to fuel demand for weight loss products in 2023. Many Egyptians gained weight during the pandemic due to limited mobility and a surge in indulgence occasions. Since lockdown…

Weight loss supplements accounted for the largest proportion of sales in 2023, partly due to the wider availability of brands and higher unit prices compared to slimming teas. With the rising cost of living, consumers are shifting their expenditure…

Weight management and wellbeing products have continued to gain popularity in Morocco in 2023, with weight loss supplements and meal replacement – the only categories to record significant sales – both poised to post improved results in volume growth…

Overweight and obesity have witnessed a surge in Nigeria, particularly in urban areas where the consumption of processed, unhealthy foods high in fats and calories is prevalent. Consequently, there has been an increased demand for OTC medications to…