Eastern Europe

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…

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.…

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 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,…

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 in Ukraine lagged behind the other main modern grocery retailers channels in terms of current value sales growth in 2023. These types of outlets have lost ground to smaller formats since the start of the Russian invasion, in part because…

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…

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…

The year 2024 has seen a significant increase in ice cream unit prices in Croatia, driven by rising input costs experienced in 2023. To maintain the perception of affordability for consumers, retailers have implemented two key strategies: reducing…

Volume and value growth of ice cream in Estonia in 2024 is attributable to rising health consciousness and increasing demand for ice cream that caters to various diets, including vegan, low-calorie, dairy-free, and zero-sugar options, which are all…

The year 2024 is poised to be a promising one for ice cream in Georgia. With the return of tourists and an uptick in consumer spending, manufacturers are focusing on introducing new products and flavours. This diverse range of offerings is expected…

The ice cream market in Hungary, which comprises nearly 50 companies, continues to face significant operating challenges. While inflation has fallen significantly from the peak seen in January 2023, the prices of essential raw materials, such as…

The Latvian ice cream industry is cautiously optimistic about 2024, with an anticipated early summer potentially boosting sales. This could help recoup some of the losses experienced in 2022, which were not fully recovered in 2023. Warmer weather…

Retail volume sales of ice cream in Lithuania will see continued growth in 2024. Consumers generally consider ice cream to be a seasonal product, with demand peaking during the hot summer months. However, players are doing their best to invest in…

Local consumers love to refresh themselves with ice cream during the warm spring and hot summer months in North Macedonia. As a result, consumer demand for ice cream remains stable in 2024, resulting in low and steady retail volume growth. Robust…

In 2024, ice cream saw growth across all metrics in Poland, although volume growth increased on the previous year while current value growth slowed but remained robust.

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…

Ice cream is set to see double-digit current value growth in Serbia in 2024. In the context of a high rate of inflation, the prices of ice cream have risen significantly. The increase in raw milk prices and a decline in milk production have led to…

Ice cream is achieving positive volume sales in Slovakia in 2024, with stronger value sales being supported by another round of unit price hikes. However, the deterrent of the high prices is being balanced out by warm weather and out-of-home…

Ice cream is the most dynamic category in snacks in Slovenia in volume and value terms in 2024. The main driver behind this is the shift in consumer purchasing behaviour with ice cream no longer perceived as a seasonal snack anymore but instead has…