Eastern Europe

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…

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…

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…

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, e-vapour products in Lithuania continued to show strong growth. A significant number of consumers are shifting from regular cigarettes to alternatives perceived as less harmful, particularly single-use vaping devices and heated tobacco.…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products, and heated tobacco in Latvia continued its upward trajectory in 2023, primarily driven by the increasing popularity of heated tobacco and single-use vaping systems. While this growth trend has been consistent…

E-vapour products saw a fall in sales in current value terms in Ukraine in 2023, while heated tobacco products saw growth in both current value and volume terms. E-vapour products experienced a significant change in market conditions in Ukraine…

Heated tobacco products was by far the most dynamic of the main categories within smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in North Macedonia in retail volume growth terms in 2023. While this was partly because sales are still emerging…

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…

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 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…

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…

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…

Insight into income, wealth and expenditure of consumers and households is vital in helping businesses make strategic decisions with regards to which country (or even which region within a country) to enter, which consumer segment to target, which…

Insight into income, wealth and expenditure of consumers and households is vital in helping businesses make strategic decisions with regards to which country (or even which region within a country) to enter, which consumer segment to target, which…

Insight into income, wealth and expenditure of consumers and households is vital in helping businesses make strategic decisions with regards to which country (or even which region within a country) to enter, which consumer segment to target, which…

Cigars and cigarillos saw a double-digit decline in volume sales in Ukraine in 2023, while smoking tobacco volumes also fell during the year. Both the cigars and cigarillos, and the smoking tobacco categories have suffered significantly during…

Fine cut tobacco was the most dynamic performer within cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco in North Macedonia in retail volume growth terms in 2023. This product type continued to gain ground as an economical substitute for cigarettes as unit…

The cigarillos category did not see much positive activity in Lithuania in 2023. The major competitive battles are fought outside this category, leaving it with little attention from market players and consumers. However, the government did not…

The year 2023 witnessed significant declines in the demand for cigars and cigarillos in Latvia. This downward trend is indicative of the niche status and limited demand for these products. In the case of cigars, the sales decline observed in 2023…

Cigarettes saw a slight rise in volume sales in Ukraine in 2023. This came after several years of marked volume decline. Amongst the reasons for this upturn in volumes were the low starting base following a steep decline in the previous year because…

As was the case throughout the review period, cigarettes in North Macedonia saw retail volume sales contract in 2023 as smoking prevalence among the adult population continued to fall in line with rising health-consciousness. Having recently become…

Retail volume sales of cigarettes continued to decline in Lithuania in 2023. Consumers are increasingly aware of the health risks associated with smoking, a concern further amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which created additional impetus for…

Throughout 2023, retail sales of cigarettes in Latvia sustained a downward trajectory. This trend was primarily driven by the steady increase in average unit prices, attributed to excise tax policies and heightened competition from alternative…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Insight into income, wealth and expenditure of consumers and households is vital in helping businesses make strategic decisions with regards to which country (or even which region within a country) to enter, which consumer segment to target, which…

Dinnerware posted dynamic double-digit growth in current value terms in 2023 despite the challenges posed by the ongoing economic situation and price fluctuations. In fact, this strong growth was in part due to the economic uncertainty and challenges…

In 2023, the demand for decorative paint surged within Ukraine with the category reporting dynamic growth both in current value and retail volume terms. This was driven by the trend towards home renovation and personalisation, amplified by the…

Bath textiles saw double-digit growth in current value terms in 2023. This was attributed to the availability of an increasingly wide assortment of high-quality bath textiles products through online retailers like IDEIA. This expanding online…

Home and garden in Ukraine experienced notable growth in current value terms in 2023 despite ongoing economic challenges and the impact of Russia’s ongoing war in the country. The overall recovery of the economy, with a 5% increase in real GDP…

Gardening registered strong growth in current value terms in Ukraine in 2023 despite economic challenges. With decreasing purchasing power impacting households, many turned to planting gardens as a practical and cost-effective way to supplement their…

Consumer Lifestyles offers valuable insights into key consumer attitudes and current thinking, and their impact on purchasing and consumption habits; quantifying behaviours, preferences and motivations, and aligning them with broader trends.

This report visually explores everyday habits and behaviours which reflect consumers' beliefs and values, linking behavioural trends with purchase and consumption habits.

It was a positive picture for tobacco in Georgia in 2023, with healthy volume growth across all tobacco products. This was partly due to an increase in population, as there were increased numbers of immigrants from Russia, as a result of the war in…

Both e-vapour and heated tobacco registered healthy volume growth in 2023. That being said, sales were still low. In particular in terms of e-vapour, there is concern that vaping is as harmful as cigarette smoking. In April 2023, the government…

There was a significant increase in volume sales of cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco in Georgia in 2023. This was partly due to an increase in population, as there were increased numbers of immigrants from Russia, as a result of the war in…