Croatia

Energy drinks is expected to be the best performing soft drink in terms of volume growth in 2023. Energy drinks are particularly popular among the under 25 age group and are widely consumed at festivals and parties. It is also popular as a cocktail…

Croatians love their coffee, but it is a mature product with little room for growth. Also, in 2023, with prices still rising, this puts a further dampening effect on coffee, with both volume and constant value sales expected to fall. Continuing…

A low corporate tax rate and better finances are leading to enhanced economic freedom in Croatia, although corruption continues to be an issue and politics is moving to the right. Adoption of the euro could boost investment and tourism, but the…

As with retail adult incontinence, an ageing population remained the key driver of Rx/reimbursement sales in Croatia in 2023, with the category recording solid volume and current value growth in the year. Incontinence products are considered medical…

Overall, retail volume sales for hot drinks are expected to fall marginally, due to a slight fall in volume sales for coffee, which is by far the most popular hot drink in Croatia. The picture is not much better for tea and other hot drinks, with…

Chocolate spreads and jams and preserves are set to post negative results in retail volume terms for a third consecutive year in 2023. This is partly due to rising health-consciousness in Croatia, as these product types are typically high in sugar.…

The sharp price growth in staple foods seen in 2022 has moderated in 2023. Retailers are trying to reduce further oscillations by introducing heavy discounts and gradual price changes. Whilst Croatian consumers remain extremely price sensitive due to…

Retail sales of wound care in Croatia grew with the Russian invasion of Ukraine as the public purchased basic wound care products to donate to those in Ukraine. The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a list of items suitable…

Sports nutrition is performing exceptionally well as the gym culture in Croatia is gaining momentum. Despite limited budgets and low income levels in the country, going to the gym and partaking in other sporting activities are becoming an integral…

Rising consumer demand for medicated skin care products continues to boost sales of dermatologicals in 2023. The desire for well-groomed and healthy skin is extending from beauty and personal care into dermatological products, although products in…

Croatians were impacted by rising inflation in 2022 and faced a cost of living crisis similar to many shoppers across Europe. As the economy started to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and rising costs of energy and raw materials…

Sports drinks is expected to register continuing healthy volume growth in what is an emerging product area. With consumers increasingly looking to be healthier and more active, this is driving volume growth of sports drinks. There is also a cohort of…

Carbonates is expected to register only marginal volume growth in 2023. Carbonates are a mature product area, with little room for further growth, and added to this, the population continues to decline. Some consumers are also switching to other…

Growth of analgesics in 2023 can be mainly attributed to the full recovery of daily activity post pandemic. The main contributors here were the full operation of manual labour intensive industries (predominantly construction), a stronger flu season…

Outbound tourism flows recorded a strong performance in Croatia during 2023 despite the impact of high inflation and the cost of living crisis on the discretionary spending of local people. In general, Croatian consumers are still hungry for leisure…

Airlines in Croatia become a far more competitive category during 2023 as the numbers of airline passengers being carried continue to increase amidst rebounding demand during the post-pandemic era. Indeed, by the end of the year, the airlines…

Concentrates account for significant volume sales in Croatia, though it is a mature product area which has seen limited growth over the review period. In 2023, concentrates is expected to register muted volume growth, with the product area…

Whilst the rising production and logistics costs of 2022 have eased, breakfast cereals prices continue their upward trajectory in 2023 as retailers seek to maintain high margins, with no government system to keep them in check. The category still…

Baby food is predicted to experience an increase in current value sales in 2023. Nonetheless, a significant portion of this value growth will be influenced by price hikes due to various factors, such as the escalation of energy prices and the ongoing…

The pandemic has encouraged several consumer behaviour changes in terms of the purchasing and consumption of vitamins. Croatians are now taking preventative health more seriously and vitamins and supplements are being taken by those who never…