Eastern Europe

High inflation and the deteriorating economic situation in the Czech Republic led to weaker volume sales for hypermarkets in 2023. Shoppers were keen to reduce costs and cut back on the number of products they buy, leading to a decrease in volume…

Hypermarkets were the best performing grocery channel in Slovakia in 2023 in terms of value growth. Recent openings of new outlets boosted value sales, including the new Kaufland Bratislava outlet discussed below. However, with inflation still high,…

In 2023, hypermarkets in Romania continued to see retail value growth; however, footfall declined. The social function of hypermarkets before COVID-19 was a place for shopping and entertainment. This has diminished significantly since 2021, with the…

Hypermarkets recoded low growth in value sales in 2023 and was by far the weakest performer among modern grocery retailers. The channel struggles with consumers’ disinclination to buy groceries in large shopping centres on the outskirts of cities.…

Hypermarkets saw shrinking value sales in Hungary in 2023, compared to the double-digit growth rates seen the previous year. This is attributed to competition from other channels, such as discounters (eg Lidl and Aldi) which offer an increasingly…

After discounters, hypermarkets were the best performing grocery channel in Bulgaria in 2023 in terms of value growth. With inflation still high, hypermarkets registered a small increase in constant value sales. Recent opening of new outlets also…

Health and wellness staple foods saw a strong year in terms of value sales growth in 2022, with demand fuelled by a sharp rise in unit prices. Strong sales also came from categories like gluten-free and meat substitutes, as a growing number of Czech…

While vegetarian staple foods continued to gain strength in Poland in 2022, they were already treated as basic products by Polish consumers. For this reason, producers have been attempting to raise consumers’ interest with additional features in…

Health and wellness soft drinks options remained in demand in 2022 in the Czech Republic, with current value growth driven by inflation and product innovation. A gradual shift from retail to on-trade was also visible, as Czech bars and restaurants…

As the number of obese and overweight people in Poland has been increasing, NGOs and the Ministry of Health promote increasing physical activity and reducing calorie consumption, especially underlining reducing the consumption of sugary drinks. The…

Rising health awareness in the Czech Republic continued to positively impact snacking trends in 2022. Natural ingredients, healthy positioning and product fortification remained in demand. These trends were further supported by new product launches,…

With rising awareness of healthy food, Polish consumers have been gradually turning towards healthy snacks whenever they can, including on-the-go, for school, work, and picnics. Producers of packaged snacks therefore aim to provide consumers with…

Hot drinks with natural ingredients and low or no added sugar remained popular in the Czech Republic in 2022. Naturally healthy products like tea saw strong growth thanks to the return of the standard flu season in the autumn and winter months of…

Hot drinks preferences amongst Poles have been influenced by new flavours, and the expanding addition of novel, healthy herbs, roots and plants. Increasing numbers of consumers are tending to support more ethical businesses, which has fuelled their…

Plant-based alternatives to cheese, milk and spreads saw major innovation in 2022, which helped propel healthier dairy (and dairy free) products to new heights. For example, Pan Hrasek, a local brand from Emco spol sro, introduced new line of…

Already, 6% of Poles between the ages of 18 and 65 identify as vegan. The reasons for this choice of diet vary, including health, animal welfare, or as a way to lose weight. Despite being relatively new to the concept of veganism, Poles have shown a…

The COVID pandemic underlined the importance of healthier living which positively impacted demand for more natural products. This rising health awareness in the Czech Republic helped boost demand for health and wellness cooking ingredients and meals…

In 2022, more Polish consumers looked for vegan products within ready meals, and due to rising consumer demand, players expanded their portfolios. For instance, Iglotex expanded its vegan portfolio Proste Historie in the form of frozen vegan ready…

Continuing depopulation in Hungary in 2021-2040 will be driven by natural decrease. Ageing will accelerate, affecting consumer trends and putting pressure on state finances. Urbanisation will quicken and Budapest will continue to be the most populous…

Budapest and Gyor stand as Hungary’s economic powerhouses, with Budapest showing the greatest promise for future economic expansion. However, the country’s cities will continue to face persistent challenges. In the short term, these challenges…