Eastern Europe

Consumer demand for processed fruit and vegetables remains stable in North Macedonia in 2023 due to the influence of the burgeoning health and wellness trend in the country. Younger consumers, in particular, are increasingly opting for processed…

Processed fruit and vegetables are not popular as Lithuanians prefer to consume fresh and home-made products rather than processed alternatives. Some preserved vegetables such as pickled products are very well received during the cold season, which…

The year 2023 marks a period of stagnation for the processed fruit and vegetables category in Latvia, with volume growth dropping to minimal. While the market is gradually recovering from the severe price inflation experienced in 2022, new economic…

In spite of continuing high inflation, breakfast cereal is expected to register healthy constant value and volume growth. With consumers leading increasingly busy lives, they appreciate the convenience of breakfast cereal. Breakfast cereal is also a…

Muesli and granola and hot cereals are the two largest breakfast cereals categories whose performance tends to influence the overall performance of breakfast cereals in North Macedonia. Due to the moderate volume growth of these two cereal types,…

The main consumers of breakfast cereal in Lithuania remain children; however, RTE cereals do not have a good reputation among parents in the country and they are not perceived as a healthy option for breakfast due to their high sugar content. Brand…

In 2023, breakfast cereals in Latvia is experiencing stagnation, primarily due to health concerns among parents regarding sugar intake for children. In addition, the static number of children in Latvia limits the potential for market growth. The…

Inflation continues to be high in 2023 and as such though baked goods is expected to register current value growth, both constant value and volume sales are expected to fall marginally. This fall in volume sales is also due to a declining population.…

Baked goods achieves minimal volume growth as leavened bread, which is the most significant product range within the category, achieves modest retail volume growth in 2023. Consumer demand in retail volume terms continues to slow as a result of the…

Bread consumption continues to decline in Lithuania in 2023 due to the growing health and wellness trend and consumers reducing their carbohydrate intake. The health and wellness trend has been gathering pace in Lithuania in recent years and has even…

In 2023, Latvia is seeing a continuing decline in overall bread consumption, a key carbohydrate source. The trend is influenced by wider health and wellness trends and exacerbated by a shrinking population, which limits the potential consumer base.…

As inflation in Poland continues to outpace the EU average, many Polish consumers are curtailing their expenditure on non-essential items like apparel. They are opting for more affordable brands, private label, and second-hand items. Women's wear…

Despite Poland's sustained high inflation in 2023, the prices for sports and sports-inspired clothing continued their upward trajectory, albeit at a slower pace than in 2022. Consequently, sportswear experienced significant sales growth in value…

In 2023, outbound tourism from Poland expanded significantly, while domestic tourism witnessed double-digit growth, significantly contributing to the increased demand for men's swimwear. The rise in international and domestic travel has spurred a…

Circular fashion, a sustainable approach encompassing recycling, upcycling, and extending the lifespan of jeans through repair and resale, stands at the forefront of the fashion industry's movement towards reducing waste and environmental impact.…

Economic dynamics, notably high inflation and escalating living costs have fuelled a greater emphasis among consumers in Poland on price-consciousness. This inclination has driven a significant demand for cost-effective yet high-quality hosiery…

The ongoing fluctuations in global temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns have instigated notable shifts in consumer behaviour. With the occurrence of an unusually cold spring and warm autumn in 2023, Polish consumers have adjusted their…

Over recent years, second-hand shopping gained global traction, primarily among Gen Z. This trend has now transcended demographics, notably appealing to parents of small children. With Poland's ongoing cost of living crisis and the rapid growth of…

The prevailing inflationary pressures in Poland have wielded a substantial influence over apparel and footwear in 2023. Escalating living costs have prompted a gradual shift among Polish consumers towards more affordable brands and private label. As…

Recent fashion aesthetics like 'Old Money' and 'Quiet Luxury' have spurred a surge in demand for classic accessories such as hats/berets, belts, and silk scarves. In 2023, these categories exhibited substantial growth rates, reflecting the evolving…

The biggest story in staple foods in Ukraine in 2023 was that all sales in all categories were still being significantly impacted by the ongoing war that rages in many parts of the country as well as high inflation due to the collapsing exchange…

In 2023, despite a stabilisation in the unit price growth of staple foods, the purchasing power of Slovaks failed to recover. Factors such as higher interest rates, rising oil prices, and more expensive services continued to significantly limit their…

In the backdrop of sustained high inflation in Romania in 2023, the resulting high cost of living significantly impacted the retail sales of basic food products, defining the landscape for staple foods during the same year. Analysis of statistics and…

In 2023, the Polish government implemented new regulations aimed at supporting bakeries and pastry shops amid escalating gas prices. Effective from April 7, these regulations broadened the eligibility criteria for purchasing gas at a regulated price…

Overall retail volume sales of staple foods in Hungary are set to decline for a third consecutive year in 2023, with the contraction projected to be slightly deeper than that recorded in 2022. Demand continues to be depressed by rapidly rising prices…

Staple foods has benefited from the slowdown in retail price inflation in 2023, supporting solid volume growth in 2023. This followed a challenging period in 2022 attributed to geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic challenges, which led to elevated…

In 2023, demand for staple foods has recovered slightly after several years of decline. Retail volume sales was under pressure for much of the review period, due to surging production costs and rising inflation, which forced prices up. Although…

Pasta registered positive retail volume growth in 2023 as sales rebounded from the double-digit declines recorded in the category over the course of 2022. However, it should be noted that demand for pasta fell at a slower rate than in most other…

In 2023, rice, pasta, and noodles experienced above-average market performance, emerging as key product categories for budget-conscious consumers. The growing presence of flexitarians and vegans in the Slovak population positively impacted sales.…

The volume growth in the category in 2023 can be attributed to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, effectively putting an end to stockpiling behaviours during the pandemic. The convenience of easy cooking and the ability to store products for…

In 2023, rice, pasta, and noodles in Poland is gravitating towards convenience and innovative formats. This shift is in response to changing consumer preferences that increasingly value quick, easy-to-prepare options alongside nutritional benefits.

As is the case across staple foods in Hungary, unit prices in rice, pasta and noodles have continued to rise dramatically in 2023 amidst persistently high inflation resulting from the devaluation of the forint and factors linked to the global…

Dried pasta is seeing steady volume growth in 2023, as it is an important staple food within the Georgian diet. Unit price growth has slowed after the surge witnessed in 2022, when rising costs of grain and flour were a key concern. This moderation…

Chilled pasta is the fastest growing category in 2023, in volume and value terms. Consumers are drawn by the favourable ratio of price and cooking time, as chilled pasta only needs to be heated for a few minutes. This pasta option is popular among…

Spiralling energy costs have led many small local grocers in Hungary to reduce the amount of refrigeration and freezer space in their stores in 2023. The same trend has been observed among convenience stores chains like Coop, Real and CBA. As a…

Processed seafood recorded a favourable sales performance during 2023 as the category rebounded from the severe sales declines that were recorded over the course of 2022, the result of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine in February of that…

Chilled processed poultry is witnessing robust volume growth in 2023 due to changing consumer behaviour as inflation remains high. As household budgets are squeezed, Estonians are actively seeking out chilled processed poultry as it is a cheaper…

The Polish meat market is undergoing a phase of brand rejuvenation and minor innovations to align with evolving consumer preferences for healthier and more convenient options. Duda, a prominent meat brand, has expanded its poultry range, catering to…

The persistently high inflation in 2023 has significantly diminished the purchasing power of the majority of the population. This financial strain has been further exacerbated by the escalating average shelf prices of processed meat and seafood,…

In 2023, processed meat, as a product area, faced heightened competition from a gradually recovering foodservice industry, despite the weak purchasing power of Slovak households. This shift is driven by the convenience factor and the emergence of…

Processed meat and seafood is witnessing slower volume growth in 2023, compared to previous years, with momentum driven by the recovery of tourism and some stabilization of price hikes. Nonetheless, price increases have had a negative impact on…

2023 witnessed a robust recovery for sales of shelf stable fruit and vegetables in Ukraine after the category fared better than most other categories of packaged food during 2022. Retail volume sales of shelf stable fruit and vegetables declined over…

In 2023, processed food, in general, experienced a slight boost due to a challenging year in agricultural production. A cold spring adversely affected or significantly delayed plant growth in gardens, compelling consumers who traditionally relied on…

The volume decline experienced by the category in 2023 can be primarily attributed to the surge in the average unit price at the shelf, driven by persistently high inflation and an overall rise in food prices that outpaced inflation. The enduring…

In 2023, Poland is seeing a significant expansion in processed fruit and vegetable offerings as players cater to growing consumer demand for convenience, health-conscious options, and varied flavour profiles.

Shelf stable vegetables in Hungary has continued to witness steep unit price hikes in 2023 due to inflationary pressures fuelled by the global recovery from the pandemic, the fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the devaluation of the forint.…

In 2023, shelf stable fruits and vegetables retained their position as the leading category within processed fruits and vegetables, in volume terms. Positive growth was also witnessed in shelf stable fruits and vegetables, primarily due to strong…

Shelf stable fruit and vegetables is enjoying strong growth volume growth in 2023, as Estonians spend less time canning fruit and vegetables at home. Shelf stable tomatoes is witnessing the highest demand, since these are more frequently used in…

Breakfast cereals recorded a positive sales performance in retail volume terms during 2023 after the category registered significant declines in retail volume sales over the course of 2022. One of the main reasons for the substantial declines seen in…

With the lifting of pandemic restrictions and the restoration of consumer mobility, Slovaks are now leading more hectic lifestyles, spending less time at home and opting for breakfast at home less frequently than in 2021 or 2022. This, coupled with…