Eastern Europe

Sales of sugar confectionery continue to see stable growth in 2024 in retail volume terms. Growth has been stronger in current value terms which is largely due to high sugar prices, which have remained high after rising sharply in 2023. The return of…

Sugar confectionery faces a difficult reality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The reputation of refined sugar remains poor, with health and wellness trends heavily impacting consumer demand. In 2024, this translates to a continued decline in consumer…

Spirits volume sales slowed down in 2023 with the on-trade responsible for most of the growth in Serbia. The on-trade sector is steadily recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and should see a full rebound in volume sales during 2024. With the rate of…

Sales of snacks continue to increase at a faster pace in current value terms than retail volume terms in 2024. This is due to prices continuing to rise, albeit at a slightly more modest pace as inflation begins to stabilise, as well as the impact of…

Despite the maturity of most categories, snacks in Bosnia and Herzegovina exhibits stable consumer demand in 2024. This, combined with rising product prices due to lingering inflation, translates to solid to strong RSP value growth. The market is…

Sales of savoury snacks in Bulgaria have remained flat in retail volume terms while growth in current value terms is being sustained by prices remaining elevated. Despite the decrease in inflation seen in 2024, the retail prices of some savoury…

Savoury snacks in Bosnia and Herzegovina faces a complex situation in 2024. Consumer demand stagnates, leading to only modest retail volume growth. This can be attributed to the growing influence of health and wellness trends. Consumers are…

Retail volume sales of RTDs in Serbia enjoyed strong growth in 2023. As consumers spent more time socialising outside the home, they were drawn to buying convenient ready-to-drink options for on-the-go consumption. Spirit-based RTDs are experiencing…

Sales of ice cream in Bulgaria in 2024 are increasing in current value terms but declining in retail volume terms. This is due largely to the considerable rise in ice cream prices in the last few years of the review period and heightened consumer…

Ice cream in Bosnia and Herzegovina defied expectations in 2024. Despite a challenging demographic crisis leading to a shrinking consumer base, the category managed to maintain stable demand. This resilience can be attributed to the constant stream…

Gum continues to see steady growth in retail volume terms in 2024, although growth has been stronger in current value terms which is due to price inflation. Gum is entirely an imported product and thus it has been impacted by higher transportation…

Gum in Bosnia faces a challenging reality in 2024. Consumer demand continues to dwindle due to a shrinking population base. This demographic decline translates to a moderate decrease in retail volume. Even with rising unit prices caused by inflation,…

Cider/perry in Serbia continued to see strong and stable volume growth in total volume terms in 2023, although growth continued to come from a small consumer base. Cider is benefitting from a growing consumer base with healthier lifestyles fuelling…

Chocolate confectionery is seeing similar sales growth in 2024 to that seen in 2023, with moderate growth in retail volume terms and stronger growth in current value terms. Despite inflation stabilising, the global jump in cocoa prices started to be…

Despite a growing health consciousness among Bosnian consumers, chocolate remains a beloved treat in 2024. Dark chocolate, in particular, enjoys a reputation as a healthy indulgence, further solidifying chocolate's place in the snacking landscape.…

Beer volume sales in Serbia remained upbeat in 2023, with the on-trade continuing to see double-digit growth and recovering back to pre-pandemic levels. Price sensitivity encouraged consumers to seek out cheaper prices of beer. As a result, one-fifth…

Rising production, packaging, and logistical costs in Serbia contributed to further price growth in alcoholic drinks during 2023. Consumer price sensitivity was more acute as the rate of inflation continued to rise year on year resulting in higher…

Local consumers showed a growing preference for wine over beer in 2023, which resulted in moderate total volume growth. Consumer demand for still red, white and rosé wines was robust, resulting in stable volumes in the off-trade, and even stronger…

The decline in sales of traditional cigarettes was noticeable across the country in 2023, driven mostly by increased health awareness and the introduction of alternative tobacco products, but also due to financial pressures. Consumers are turning…

Sweet biscuits, snack bars, and fruit snacks is seeing a small negative-digit volume slump in 2024, while value is better supported by high unit prices. Snack bars is seeing the strongest retail value sales, along with seeing a fairly modest volume…