Eastern Europe

Inflation and rising prices of most products, coupled with an increasing cost of living in 2023, negatively impacted consumer confidence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Additionally, a negative demographic trend affecting the country contributed to the…

Alcoholic drinks in Bulgaria was heavily influenced by price increases in 2023, due to the prevalence of high inflation. The second half of the year saw inflation start to fall, but this had little impact on retail prices, which continued to rise in…

A combination of forces shaped the market for alcoholic drinks in Hungary in 2023. People were happy to break free from any COVID-19 related restrictions and live their social lives as they used to be. This was paralleled by the large pent-up demand…

Sales of alcoholic drinks declined both in off-trade and on-trade volume terms in Poland in 2023. At the same time, alcoholic drinks saw strong growth in total current value terms. This was the result of a significant increase in the prices of…

Adults in the Czech Republic consumed lower quantities of alcoholic drinks in 2023 due to the difficult economic climate and the growing preference for beverages with lower alcohol content. High inflation and the rising cost of living hindered…

One significant trend observed in beer in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023 was the challenge posed by market saturation and escalating prices. As consumer preferences continued to evolve, the product area faced a decline in overall demand, particularly…

In 2023, beer consumption in Bulgaria decreased resulting in a decline in off-trade volume sales. Bulgarians spent more time out of the home and increased their level of domestic and foreign travel, thus lowering at-home beer consumption. The…

Beer saw volume sales fall significantly in Hungary in 2023. Brewers held high expectations of restoring volume sales back to pre-pandemic levels during the year. However, these efforts fell short, and the beer market experienced a decline at the…

Sales of beer declined in 2023 in on- and off-trade volume terms as high inflation and rising living costs restricted consumer purchasing power. With money being tight many consumers were forced to focus on basic necessities and therefore they were…

Beer in the Czech Republic came under further pressure in 2023, with on-trade volumes declining. Stubbornly high inflation continued to impact Czech consumers with the cost-of-living creating a tougher economic environment in 2023. The on trade has…

Consumer demand for cider/perry in Bosnia and Herzegovina tends to be highly volatile, given that this category is small within alcoholic drinks. In 2023, even minor changes and shifts had significant impacts on the category's performance. Following…

In 2023, the cider/perry category in Bulgaria witnessed strong growth in retail volume terms, thereby exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The development of this category is a result of the global trend towards low-alcohol and long drinks, especially…

Cider/perry saw a rise in total volume sales in Hungary in 2023. Cider, a relatively new category in the Hungarian alcoholic drinks market, remains a small segment compared to beer, but is growing, in contrast to alcoholic flavoured/mixed lagers,…

Cider/perry is a declining category, with a lack of interest or investment that could help stimulate sales. Due to falling demand, retail chains are reducing the shelf space provided for cider/perry, especially discounters, some of which have even…

Price increases of cider/perry and the weak economic situation in the Czech Republic resulted in declining volume sales, whilst rising unit prices underpinned current value sales. The withdrawal of three key brands in 2022 continued to negatively…

Convenience continued to drive consumer demand for RTDs in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023, resulting in solid total volume growth. This growth, combined with rising RTD prices due to inflation, culminated in achieving strong double-digit percentage…

RTDs in Bulgaria witnessed another strong year of recovery in 2023, although this category is still growing from a small base. The re-activation of social lifestyles, people gatherings, festivals and other social occasions underpinned demand. Volume…

RTDs saw a rise in total volume sales in Hungary in 2023. The category was more exposed than most as rapidly rising inflation led Hungarians to exercise greater caution in their spending decisions, as these products are comparatively expensive, and…

Spirit-based RTDs was the most dynamic category within RTDs in Poland in 2023. Looking to capitalise on the growing demand for these products players continued to develop and launch new lines of RTDs in 2023. For example, in 2023 Jack Daniel's & Cola…

RTDs have benefited from the reduction in visits to on-trade establishments, as they appeal to consumers who still want the experience of mixed drinks but at a more affordable price. Indeed, RTDs have been a cost-effective solution during the tough…

Consumer demand for spirits witnessed a significant slowdown in 2023, marked by minimal total volume growth across the category. This trend was characterised by mixed performances among the three largest spirits categories. While whisky categories…

In 2023, the consumption of spirits in Bulgaria increased with volume sales rising well in on-trade venues but declining marginally in retailers. Current value growth was fuelled by price rises after a long period of stability. Nevertheless, the…

Total volume sales of spirits increased slightly in Hungary in 2023. A small yet affluent customer segment, characterised by a higher level of knowledge about spirits and a discerning taste for quality, continued to drive the market for premium…

The average unit price of spirits in Poland rose sharply in 2023 due to high inflation, an increase in production costs, and a further increase in the excise tax rate by 5%. Although these price rises translated into strong growth in current value…

The challenging economic situation in the Czech Republic led to weaker demand for spirits in both the off-trade and on-trade in 2023. Czech households came under more intense financial pressure due to prevailing high inflation, with the price of…

In 2023, wine in Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced a notable slowdown in consumer demand, although it remained comparatively stronger when compared to beer consumption trends. This shift in consumer preferences hinted at a gradual transition towards…

Wine in Bulgaria continued to enjoy buoyant retail volume growth, underpinned by the recovery of on-trade sales following the pandemic. However, wine consumption through the on-trade still remained below 2019 levels as inflationary conditions and…

Total volume sales of wine fell slightly in Hungary in 2023. However, during the year, sparkling wine volume sales continued to grow, finally exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Sparkling wine consumption, traditionally reserved for celebrations and…

Wine saw strong growth in current value terms in 2023 but this was the result of price hikes rather than an increase in demand with sales declining in total volume terms as financial pressures led to consumers adopting a more cautious approach to…

Wine in the Czech Republic faced declining volume sales in 2023 as economic conditions worsened. The high cost-of-living drove consumers to cut back on purchases within the wine category. Current value growth was buoyed by increased prices due to…

In 2023, the impact of immigrants from Russia on alcoholic drink sales in Georgia was negligible, resulting in a more subdued sales growth compared to the previous year. Despite this, moderate inflation and a stable exchange rate contributed to the…

In 2023, the volume sales of beer in Georgia continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace compared to previous years. This growth, although more stable, was underpinned by both an increase in domestic production and a rise in imports. The Horeca…

In 2023, the influx of immigrants from Russia did not significantly impact vodka sales in Georgia, resulting in a subdued growth compared to the previous year. Consumption of spirits remained relatively constant, with distinct preferences observed…

Throughout 2023, wine in Georgia witnessed a gradual recovery following the disruptions caused by the pandemic. Production of Georgian wine experienced growth, reaffirming its status as the most consumed alcoholic beverage in the country. However, a…

Despite strong growth in unit prices, alcoholic drinks marked positive volume growth in 2023. It is clear that Croatians are tired of social distancing and need to vent out. With COVID-19 measures all but gone, the number of events spanning across…

In 2023, sales of alcoholic drinks in Estonia experienced a pause following the hectic pandemic and post-pandemic periods. The local economy's underperformance added pressure on consumption. However, cross-border trade with Finland and Latvia…

Alcoholic drinks witnessed steeper volume sales decline in 2023 as the high costs of living in Romania encouraged consumers to make cutbacks on these beverages. The price of food continued to rise in line with the stubbornly high inflation rate,…

In 2023, beer sales in Croatia saw a marginal increase in total volume sales, primarily attributed to the positive impact of tourism on on-trade consumption. However, off-trade sales, largely reliant on local residents, experienced a decline due to…

The year 2023 was neither the best nor the worst year for beer sales in Estonia. Following the post-pandemic recovery in 2022, 2023 saw a reconsideration of consumer purchasing habits, especially in the face of economic slowdown. Consumers were more…

Beer in Romania suffered further volume sales decline due to lower purchasing power. Inflation remained stubbornly high with increasing manufacturing costs driving up average prices of beer. The adverse weather during the all-important summer months…

In 2023, cider and perry in Croatia continued their upward trajectory, surpassing 2019 volume sales in both the off-trade and on-trade channels. This resurgence was primarily driven by the return of open-air socialising, concerts, festivals, and…

2023 saw a decline in cider/perry sales in Estonia. Although cider remains a popular beverage in foodservice during the summer, economic uncertainty in 2023 caused sales to suffer. Sweet options like Fizz and Kiss lost ground as consumers became more…

Cider/perry in Romania has equally felt the impact of price increases and the high cost of living in 2023, as in other categories. However, volume growth rose slightly in the off-trade and on-trade, reflecting the increasing number of consumers loyal…

In 2023, spirits-based RTDs continued to dominate the Croatian market, bolstered by the popularity of well-known spirit brands that serve as the main ingredients for many of these RTDs. Notable brands include Smirnoff, Absolut vodka, Bacardi and…

RTDs in Estonia is the second largest in the Baltic states after Latvia, with Lithuania showing a different consumption pattern. Sales grew in 2023 as RTDs became a popular choice for consumers seeking a fizzy, low-alcohol alternative to beer or…

In 2023, an increasing number of well-known brands and cocktail mixes supported volume growth for RTDs in Romania. The development of cocktail culture in both the on-trade and home helped to widen the appeal of RTDs. Home consumption of traditional…

In 2023, the frequency of spirits consumption in Croatia saw a notable increase, as social activities both in on-trade and off-trade settings began to resemble pre-pandemic patterns. Retailers observed a heightened demand for spirits, with products…

In 2023, spirits in Estonia experienced a calmer year compared to previous ones. After the fluctuations during the pandemic, sales of spirits demonstrated a more stagnant performance. The product area took a breather, stabilising after the volatility…

Spirits suffered from inflationary pressures in 2023 with higher input costs associated with energy and raw materials driving up average prices in Romania. Excise duty also increased in January 2023 which contributed to price growth and the weaker…

In 2023, wine sales in Croatia experienced notable growth, primarily driven by the tourism sector. The influx of tourists significantly boosted on-trade wine consumption, particularly in coastal regions renowned for their hospitality and wine…