Eastern Europe

Croatian consumers largely prefer multi-purpose surface care products as they offer a convenient and efficient way to clean different surfaces with just one product, thereby saving time, money and storage space. In 2023, the majority of consumers had…

Surface care in Bulgaria continued to decline in retail volume in 2023, much of which is the consequence of the category's unusual growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, sales are declining in comparison as usage returns to pre-pandemic…

Surface care excluding wipes witnessed marginal retail volume growth in 2023, due to the maturity of this category and weaker demand in the face of price increases. The moderate growth of home care disinfectants is lifting sales across the entire…

Supermarkets was the most dynamic grocery retailers channel in Ukraine in current value growth terms in 2023. While many players suffered steep declines in revenues and the loss of several outlets in 2022 due to the initial shock and destruction of…

Supermarkets in the Czech Republic have enjoyed a solid performance in recent years. Inflation has remained high since 2022 plunging the Czech economy into dire straits for the second year running. Even though the soaring costs of living put further…

Supermarkets in Slovakia lost out to discounters in 2023, as continuing high inflation saw consumers increasingly shop in discounters. Consumers also sought out discounts in supermarkets as they were highly price sensitive. As such, supermarket…

In 2023, supermarkets in Romania recorded double-digit retail value growth; the result of having excellent locations in crowded neighbourhoods. As such, these stores increasingly benefit from proximity while offering a broader range of products…

Supermarkets recorded strong growth in value sales in 2023. The upward trend in the number of supermarkets also continued in 2023 with supermarkets recording the highest growth in grocery retailers during the year. Proximity supermarkets, ie local…

Supermarkets saw a decline in value sales in Hungary in 2023, following the positive performance seen in 2022 as the channel benefitted from the normalisation patterns following the era of the pandemic. In 2023, however, the channel is being affected…

Supermarkets in Bulgaria registered current value growth, though constant value sales fell. Inflation was still an issue and impacted profitability. That being said, supermarkets are the largest modern grocery retailer in terms of value sales, with…

With high inflation weakening purchasing power among the population, volume growth for sunglasses in Romania in 2024 looks set to be slower than in 2023. The category continues to perform reasonably well overall in this regard, however, in part…

Sunglasses continue to exhibit robust growth in eyewear in Poland in 2024, albeit at a slightly slower pace compared to the previous year. Despite economic challenges stemming from the cost-of-living crisis, the category remains one of the…

In 2023, sun care saw a strong recovery following the significant decline seen a year earlier, with much of 2022 marked by major challenges and uncertainties. The adaptation of the population to the new realities resulted in a shift in summer leisure…

Sun care sales rose in current value terms in the Czech Republic in 2023. After a slump during the COVID-19 crisis, when travel – and therefore exposure to the sun – was significantly restricted, the sun care category recorded a strong rebound coming…

Sun care in Slovenia had a favourable year in 2023 supported by warm weather for the majority of the summer and improvements in the tourism sector. Croatia remains a popular summer destination for Slovenians, but there has been a visible improvement…

In 2023, the post-pandemic recovery in sun care continued, although retail volume sales remained below pre-pandemic levels in Slovakia. Despite the growing pressure on purchasing power and rising prices, exceptionally good weather in Slovakia boosted…

Sun care in Serbia experienced robust growth in 2023 driven by aggressive promotional activities by all major players, commencing as early as April and extending throughout the summer season. The exceptionally hot weather prompted Serbians to spend…

In 2023, sun care in Romania witnessed another year of surging retail volume and current value sales, remaining one of the most rapidly expanding categories within beauty and personal care. Part of the reason for continued dynamism was that sales of…

After witnessing significant declines in 2020 in the first year of COVID-19, sun care in Poland saw continuous robust retail volume and current value growth from 2021 to 2023, recovering fully in current value terms, but not rebounding completely…

It was a dismal year for sun care in North Macedonia in 2023, with both constant value and volume sales falling. Inflation continued to be high and the continuing rising costs cut into players’ profit margins. A declining population also led to a…

In 2023, sun care saw double-digit retail value growth and positive retail volume growth in Lithuania. The weather during the year was warm for longer, leading people to spend more time outside. This partnered with rising knowledge and concern…

Sun care was one of the strongest performing categories in 2023, with the hot summer added momentum to volume sales in Latvia. In spite of high inflation, caused by an energy crisis stemming from the war in nearby Ukraine, volume sales of sun care…

Sun care products have traditionally been viewed as seasonal items, primarily associated with summer. However, in recent years, the season for sun protection usage has expanded significantly. Springtime now presents substantial UV exposure risks,…

Sun care in Georgia was the star performer among beauty and personal care products in 2023, registering the highest value and volume growth. Summers are getting hotter and consumers are also increasingly conscious of the danger of sun exposure and in…

In 2023, sun care in Estonia recorded strong retail value and volume sales, with positive retail volume sales in all product areas. Sun protection recorded the strongest retail volume growth, boosted by the warm weather in the country. In…

Recent years have seen huge growth in inbound tourist arrivals to Croatia, with each passing year seeing new records being set in the numbers of inbound tourists visiting the country, especially during summer. Much of this growth is related to…

Sun care in Bulgaria was hard hit during the pandemic when travel all but stopped in the country. Bulgarian consumers do not use sun protection all year round, with usage mainly concentrated during the summer season when citizens take holidays and…

In 2023, sun care in Bosnia and Herzegovina witnessed a moderate decline in retail volume terms. A shorter holiday season occurred due to cooler and rainy weather at the end of spring and the start of the summer season. Consumer demand for sun…

In 2024 Roshen Kondyterska Korporatsia is maintaining its lead of overall sugar confectionery in Ukraine, benefitting from fixed price promotions and a variety of novelties in its Yummi Gummi brand. The company offers the most favourably priced…

Medicated confectionery continues to experience dynamic growth both in value and volume terms in 2024. This strong growth can be attributed to the resurgence of cases of cold and flu. With COVID-19 no longer in place other seasonal viruses such as…

Sugar confectionery is expected to register moderate constant value growth in 2023, but volume growth will be marginal. Continuing economic uncertainty as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the meteoric rise in inflation and tightening…

Sugar confectionery sales are being influenced by high raw sugar prices in 2024, leading to inflated unit prices supporting value, while volume sales remain in an overall slump. Within this environment, consumers welcome price-based promotions and…

Retail volume sales of sugar confectionery saw positive growth in 2023, continuing the pattern of the previous year. This was largely due to the return of consumers, including children, to their busy, pre-pandemic lifestyles, which led to an increase…

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…

There was a growing trend of sugar confectionery shops becoming more common in Poland towards the end of the review period, with these replacing traditional mobile sweets stalls. One factor that contributed to this trend was the increasing presence…

Healthy eating is taking a higher priority with consumers increasingly shunning sugar confectionery due to its high sugar content and limited value-added properties. As a result, retail volume sales are declining for the fourth consecutive year in…

Sugar confectionery is registering a good performance in 2023, despite the ongoing threat of price inflation. On balance, sugar confectionery is not a popular choice of snack in Lithuania, and in terms of volume sales it is ahead of only gum in…

While sugar confectionery is expected to register an increase in current value sales, volume growth is expected to be muted, as continuing high inflation dampens volume sales. In terms of value growth, mints are expected to be the strongest…

Sugar confectionery saw a mixed performance in 2023, with volume growth rates varying according to subcategory. With food inflation running at record levels, retailers focussed on rationalising their product portfolios in favour of their best-selling…

Despite the challenging economic circumstances, sugar confectionery has remained a popular and affordable indulgence option for consumers in Georgia, with solid retail volume and current value growth seen in 2023. However, the pace of grow is slowing…

While sugar confectionery is expected to register an increase in current value sales, constant value sales are expected to fall, due to high inflation. Volume growth is also expected to be muted. In terms of value growth, mints are expected to be the…

The worsening financial situation in Croatia, marked by rising living expenses and food prices, has significantly impacted consumer behaviour in 2024. This has led to a surge in the popularity of private label sugar confectionery. Consumers are…

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…

Street stalls/kiosks has historically been a particularly strong consumer foodservice channel in Ukraine, with it being the largest channel in terms of number of transactions prior to the pandemic. Since 2020 the channel has been under significant…

Though not immune from the cost-of-living crisis, street stalls/kiosks was among the categories that profited most in 2023 as rising prices and falling disposable incomes made Czech consumers more inclined to favour cheaper foodservice options. It…

With inflation continuing to be high in 2023, street foods/kiosks were a popular choice, as such offerings tends to be more economical than other foodservice options. Street stall operators do not have the same expenses in terms of rent etc and…

The value sales increase for street stalls/kiosks was the consequence of increased mobility, following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in 2022. Players benefited from high footfall, with street stalls/kiosks being a popular option for purchasing…

Street stalls/kiosks was among the better performing areas of Poland’s foodservice market in 2023, in part because comparatively low prices ensured it was somewhat less exposed to the cost-of-living crisis. Given the importance of on-the-go…

Street stalls/kiosks run by entrepreneurs and small businesses were among the most vulnerable players within consumer foodservice in 2023. The sales performance of street stalls/kiosks is highly dependent on changing traffic patterns, the weather and…