Eastern Europe

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…

Sugar confectionery is seeing a negative-digit volume slump in 2024, whilst value is supported by price hikes. Notably, sugar confectionery falls under the shadow of the VAT increase, starting 1 January 2024, from 9% to 19% for food products with…

Spirits registered robust volume growth in 2023 with some consumers in North Macedonia drinking more spirits in place of beer and wine. With total volumes already well recovered from the pandemic in 2022, demand for spirits continues to rise…

Snacks in Romania is seeing a small negative-digit volume decline in 2024, with the volume decline in off-trade sales counteracting the small positive volume gains in on-trade terms. On the other hand, value sales are better supported by inflationary…

E-vapour products and heated tobacco products were the two most dynamic areas of tobacco in Slovenia in 2023. Increasing awareness about the harmful impact of smoking cigarettes and tobacco has resulted in some consumers switching to alternatives…

Savoury snacks is achieving positive volume and value growth in Romania in 2024. Sales are supported by the “snackification” trend, whereby consumers with busy, out-of-home lifestyles tend to eat fewer main meals and more snacks throughout the day.…

While convenience continued to drive demand for RTDs in North Macedonia over the review period, the category faced strong declines in 2023. Local consumers, especially young adults, are opting to drink spirits such as gin and whisky which are…

Ice cream is in a negative-digit volume slump in Romania in 2024, while value sales are better supported by price hikes. As in past years, ice cream continues to be strongly affected by the seasonal weather, with the warm season which starts in…

Gum is achieving positive volume and robust value sales in Romania in 2024. This is primarily attributed to consumers’ post-pandemic return to busy, out-of-home lifestyles, therefore reviving the role of gum as a breath freshener. Added to which, the…

Cigars and cigarillos saw steady growth in current value terms in 2023 with cigars seeing the strongest growth. The premiumisation trend was behind the strong value growth seen in cigars, with some consumers seeking a high quality and luxurious…