Eastern Europe

Over 60% of consumers in Poland reduce food waste and recycle items, while the majority aim to positively impact the planet, shaping their sustainable purchasing decisions. These habits have led over 40% of consumers to identify as Zero Wasters,…

Sports drinks is expected to register the highest volume growth among all sports drinks in 2023. That being said, this growth is from a very low base. With consumers increasingly looking to be healthier and more active, this is driving volume growth…

Overall, soft drinks is expected to register a minimal increase in retail volume sales. Continuing population decline dampens volume sales, as well as inflation, though price growth has eased. Growth is also muted through foodservice channels.

RTD tea is expected to register moderate volume growth in 2023, despite continuing population decline. In particular, there has been some shift from carbonates and juice and this is expected to support volume growth. RTD tea is made up of still RTD…

RTD coffee is expected to register the highest volume growth among soft drinks in 2023. However, RTD coffee is still an emerging product area and value sales are small and it is partly its novelty factor that has boosted volume sales. That being…

Juice is expected to register moderate volume growth in 2023. Many consumers are switching from carbonates to juices, as they consider juice to be healthier. In addition, within juice, consumers are opting for healthier, more natural versions as much…

Energy drinks is expected to register healthy volume growth in 2023. Energy drinks have a loyal fan base. Consumers lead increasingly busy lives and in particular younger people appreciate the boost from energy drinks, both for physical activities…

While concentrates are a sizeable product area in Bosnia-Herzegovina, they have been on a downward trajectory in recent years and this expected to continue in 2023, with a further fall in volume sales. Consumers prefer the convenience of RTD options…

Overall, volume sales are expected to stagnate in 2023, with the most popular cola carbonates expected to see volume sales fall slightly. Carbonates are a mature product area, with little room for further growth, and added to this, the population…

Bottled water continues to be the most popular soft drink in Bosnia-Herzegovina and is expected to achieve moderate volume growth in 2023. A certain cohort of consumers are switching to bottled water from carbonates, as they look to be healthier, and…

Tea registered stable volume growth in 2023, aided by its popularity in Poland where it is widely consumed. Retail volume growth has slowed, however, with consumers facing higher prices in the tea category as part of a broad rise in the cost of…

In response to rising prices and decreasing incomes, Bulgarian consumers are increasingly favouring local tea brands over international ones. This preference is driven by the perception that local brands offer higher quality at more affordable…

The picture is positive for tea in 2023. Current value growth is expected to register a double-digit increase, as price continue to rise. However, constant value growth is also expected to register a moderate increase, as is volume growth. Tea still…

Retail volume growth is being seen across the board in staple foods in Slovenia in 2023 as demand continues to increase steadily in the year. Processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat is the fastest growing category in volume terms, with sales…

Despite being an emerging product in Poland, sports drinks saw volume sales growth slow in 2023, due to ongoing inflation and diminishing purchasing power. Nevertheless, it was still one of the top performing categories in soft drinks. The importance…

The growing adoption of healthier lifestyles, including regular exercise routines, has positively impacted sports drinks sales in Hungary. Despite facing substantial price increases, consumers continue to participate in various sporting activities…

Sports drinks in Bulgaria is recording strong and stable growth in 2023, propelled by an increasing interest in outdoor sports and physical exercise, and a growing number of gyms. Alongside physical activity trends, there is a heightened awareness of…

Soft drinks in Poland witnessed a decline in volume sales in 2023, following a second year of double-digit inflation. The steep growth in unit prices led to weaker demand for soft drinks, with some categories suffering more than the previous year.…

High inflation exerted significant pressure on consumer spending, negatively impacting soft drinks in 2023. Many consumers were forced to curtail their spending on non-essential items, leading to a decline in soft drink consumption. Strong product…

The soft drinks market in Bulgaria in 2023 is experiencing transformative changes in response to economic factors and evolving consumer preferences. Inflationary pressures are notably impacting price growth and disposable incomes, leading consumers…

In 2023, RTD tea declined in volume terms. Demand fell as consumers became more budget-conscious due to the cost of living crisis and higher average prices. RTD tea is also highly seasonal drink, with high dependency on promotional activities from…

RTD tea sales in Hungary faced significant challenges in 2023 due to rising prices and the non-essential nature of these products. Despite the potential for growth, RTD tea remained highly reliant on player support, constant innovation, and seasonal…

RTD tea in Bulgaria faces a significant challenge due to its seasonality, with consumption predominantly occurring during the summer months. To address this, producers are introducing new flavour ranges not typically associated with summer, such as…

In 2023, RTD coffee leads as the fastest growing category in soft drinks, in volume terms. Despite the unfavourable economic conditions, RTD coffee continues to attract new consumers. The product category is widely available in the modern trade, with…

Despite its low base and strong initial development, RTD coffee experienced a slowdown in growth, even a slight decline in 2023, due to price hikes implemented in 2022 and 2023. Financial instability prompted consumers to reduce expenses on…

Post-COVID-19, as travel and work activities resumed, there was a rebound in off-trade impulse consumption and demand for RTD coffee, leading to strong retail volume growth in 2022, albeit from a relatively low base. Such positive growth continues in…

Instant noodles is the fastest growing category in 2023 due to its convenience and the rising popularity of international cuisine. With increasingly busy lifestyles, consumers are looking for products that are quick and easy to prepare. They are also…

Chilled processed meat remains the largest category in both volume and value terms in 2023. Convenience continues to drive category sales as consumers with hectic lifestyles are increasingly looking for ready-to-eat options. However, meat and seafood…

Processed fruit and vegetables are recording further growth in 2023. The main factor underpinning this positive performance is the rising demand for products that offer convenience as many consumers have less time to go shopping for fresh food on…

Other hot drinks continues to face the threat of high inflation in 2023, with pressure on costs resulting in further price rises. Consumers are seeking more budget-friendly options in this category, with a shift away from premium and gourmet hot…

In Bulgaria's other hot drinks category, chocolate-based flavoured powder drinks maintains the largest volume share despite facing several challenges. These challenges include declining birth rates and a growing consumer preference for low-sugar…

Value sales are still relatively low in what is an immature product area, which still has plenty of room for growth. As such, though prices are still on the rise, it is expected to register moderate volume growth in 2023. Chocolate-based flavoured…

In August 2023, the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) published its production forecast estimating that the apple harvest in Europe in 2023 will be 3% lower than the previous year. Meanwhile, Poland, which is considered Europe's largest apple…

Juice in Hungary faced significant challenges in 2023 due to high inflation rates and rising prices. Across all juice categories, except for coconut and other plant waters, sales volume experienced a substantial decline. This decline can be…

100% juice is posting stable growth in Bulgaria in 2023, maintaining popularity due to its perceived freshness, nutritional value and alignment with health and wellness trends. Despite this, its growth potential is somewhat hampered by ongoing…

The year 2023 has been characterized by another year of high inflation, with consumers struggling with costs. Despite this, coffee is gaining popularity not only in cafés, but also at home and in the workplace, with a growing interest in speciality…

The hot drinks market in Bulgaria in 2023 is significantly influenced by the cost-of-living crisis. With an inflation rate among the highest in the EU, Bulgarian consumers are experiencing squeezed disposable incomes and escalating grocery product…

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 Bosnia-Herzegovina. Continuing population decline dampens volume sales, as…

For a significant period, energy drinks seemed to be resistant to all negative factors influencing the soft drinks category. It registered solid volume growth in 2021, when many categories declined due to the rising prices caused by the newly…

The previously robust growth of energy drinks in Hungary experienced a slowdown in 2023. This slowdown is primarily attributed to the significant increase in prices for food and beverages, which prompted consumers to reduce their purchases of…

Energy drinks benefits from constant innovation and improved distribution. Producers are challenging traditional perceptions of energy drinks by introducing sugar-free variants and incorporating healthier ingredients like fruit juice, green tea or…

In 2023, powder concentrates registered a significant price growth of 30%. Players had done all they could to prevent prices rising in 2021 and 2022. In addition, concentrates escaped the impact of the sugar tax, due to a loophole, and this meant…

Liquid concentrates demonstrated remarkable resilience amidst the inflationary pressures that affected other soft drinks. This can be attributed to their perceived affordability during the economically challenging period, leading consumers to shift…

In Bulgaria, liquid concentrates have emerged as a cost-effective option for soft drink preparation amid tightened household budgets. This shift towards more affordable alternatives has temporarily slowed the category's decline. However, concentrates…

High inflation continues to exert a strong impact on the coffee category in 2023, putting pressure on all parts of the industry, from production to consumption. Coffee production is labour intensive, but also incurs costs in terms of fertilizers,…

Instant coffee in Bulgaria is experiencing a phase of stagnation, primarily due to the outdated perception of instant coffee compared to more modern alternatives like capsule coffee and bean-grinding machines. The demographic of instant coffee users…

While coffee is expected to register double-digit current value growth, volume sales are expected to fall marginally. A couple of factors are expected to lead to the slight volume decline. Continuing price rises dampen volume sales, as does…

In 2023, retail volume sales of carbonates fell back into decline. Carbonates was still recovering from the sharp price increases caused by Poland’s sugar tax in 2021, when high inflation caused further price shocks for consumers. Although unit price…

Regular cola carbonates, as a product area, experienced a more moderate decline in sales volume than non-cola carbonates in 2023, despite significant price increases. This can be attributed to the enduring popularity of cola flavour among consumers…

Carbonates in Bulgaria is witnessing notable shifts in 2023 due to persistent inflationary pressures impacting consumer spending habits. The rising cost of living has led consumers to curtail expenditure on non-essential goods, fostering a heightened…