Fresh Food

Demand for eggs continues to grow in the United Arab Emirates, despite further price increases. In the first quarter of 2023, the government approved a temporary hike in the average unit price of eggs by a maximum of 13%. This was approved due to the…

The level of awareness regarding environmental issues associated with traditional fishing is growing in the United Arab Emirates. As a result, local consumers are seeking sustainably-sourced fish and seafood which ensures a stable and long-term…

Demand for fresh food continues to grow across different categories in the United Arab Emirates. The nation is comprised of a diverse population whereby fresh food represents an important component of numerous dishes. With a growing population in the…

Consumption of fresh fruits continues to rise in the United Arab Emirates. The population is growing due to the increasing arrival of expatriates, facilitated by visa programmes. Many people consider moving to the United Arab Emirates due to…

Meat is the most popular protein source in the United Arab Emirates. It is considered highly nutritious by providing essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Many local consumers are following healthier diets, whereby they are increasing their…

The number of consumers in the United Arab Emirates who are switching to plant-based diets is on the rise. In particular, nuts are a popular plant-based source of protein and are being increasingly incorporated into consumers’ diets. They provide…

The growing popularity of plant-based diets is increasing the demand for alternative sources of protein to meat. Pulses are considered an excellent protein alternative. As an increasing number of local consumers are adopting vegetarian and vegan…

The United Arab Emirates has a very diverse population, whereby potatoes are an important ingredient used in numerous dishes. Potatoes are the most consumed form of starchy roots in both retail and foodservice. Supported by a growing population in…

Although there are many initiatives to reduce sugar consumption, demand for sugar and sweeteners continues to grow in the United Arab Emirates. Sweets and desserts are culturally important in the United Arab Emirates, as they are often associated…

The level of awareness among local consumers regarding the importance of adopting healthy diets and lifestyles is growing in the United Arab Emirates. Therefore, many local consumers are gaining a greater interest in incorporating fresh vegetables…

Eggs in the UK continue to be impacted by rising unit prices, driven by escalating production costs and supply challenges that are notably affecting consumption levels. Egg producers are already contending with narrow profit margins, and the soaring…

Fish and seafood is traditionally considered one of the more expensive protein options in the UK, and this perception is taking a toll on volume sales. As the cost-of-living crisis persists, local consumers are seeking ways to stretch their budgets,…

2023 has presented considerable challenges and complexities for fresh food in the UK. Families are increasingly turning away from traditional staples such as fresh meat, fresh fruits, and vegetables due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. This…

Fruits in the UK are experiencing persistently high input costs, impacting their overall consumption. Despite the recommendations for higher fruit consumption, local consumers are struggling to meet these targets. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis…

Meat in the UK continues to see persistent inflationary pressures stemming from higher production costs, particularly in the areas of animal feed and energy. This has spilled down to consumers in the form of increased unit prices, combined with a…

Most fresh food categories were negatively impacted by extreme weather conditions in the UK and other countries over 2022 and 2023, which fluctuated between extreme heat and droughts and very wet climates. However, this was not the case for nuts, as…

In 2023, retail demand for pulses in the UK continues to grow. As meat, fish and other animal proteins are increasing in price due to inflation and the rising cost of living, local consumers are looking for cheaper sources of protein, and one of…

Extreme weather conditions in 2022 and 2023 have had an impact on the production of starchy roots in the UK and around the world. Droughts and hot weather occurred in 2022, while a wet spring and summer delayed the campaign for starchy roots in 2023.…

Following two consecutive years of double-digit declines, retail volume sales of sugar and sweeteners continue to fall in 2023. Droughts caused the cultivation campaign to be delayed in 2022, which negatively impacted sugar beet production.…

Retail volume sales of vegetables in the UK continue to decline in 2023, primarily due to severe product shortages. For instance, there was a major shortage of vegetables in February and March 2023. For several weeks, products such as tomatoes,…

Rising input costs such as the cost of animal feed and installing a more stable electricity supply has resulted in price hikes for eggs. The cost of feed, fuel and electricity usually accounts for 75% of input costs for producers. Grain shortages due…

South Africans are feeling the financial pressure as the impact of high inflation and rising interest rates in 2023 have resulted in a household debt-to-income ratio, increasing from 61.6% to 62.1%. With rising fuel prices, the cost of going out to…

With rising inflation, water supply issues, crumbling infrastructure and rolling power blackouts, South African fresh food producers are under extreme financial pressure and this, in turn, is passed on to local consumers. South Africa had been…

As with all food production in South Africa, fruit farmers face challenges as the industry struggles to remain profitable with rising costs driven by high inflation and exacerbated by power blackouts. Interest rate hikes have impacted cash flows and…

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) reported a significant slowdown in disposable income growth in the first quarter of 2023. The impact of high inflation and rising interest rates resulted in a household debt-to-income ratio increasing from 61.6%…

In a time where South Africans are experiencing high inflationary price increases across all fresh food categories, nuts experienced a price drop in late 2022 due to oversupply in the local market. South Africa is the leading supplier of macadamia…

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) reported a significant slowdown in disposable incomes in the first quarter of 2023. The impact of high inflation and rising interest rates resulted in a household debt-to-income ratio increasing from 61.6% to…

Potatoes are a staple for many South Africans, comprising 95% total volume share of starchy roots. Therefore, a reduction in supply and price hikes are impacting local consumers. The supply of potatoes declined in February 2023 to the lowest…

South Africa’s sugar industry has struggled in recent years due to a combination of poor local production, impacted by loadshedding and flooding, as well as elevated international sugar prices, caused by climatic factors such as drought. While…

The impact of inflation has not spared vegetables, with the latter also experiencing further steep price increases in 2023. With affordability being a key priority for South Africans, one of the ways to offset these increases is by choosing to…

Total volume sales of eggs in Japan have been declining in 2023, heavily impacted by serious egg shortages caused by an avian influenza outbreak in the first half of the year. Since the start of the avian influenza season in October 2022, more than…

Overall demand for fish and seafood remains subdued in 2023, mainly driven by a decline in retail volume sales due to increasing prices. Impacted by the soaring cost of oil, the average retail unit price of fish and seafood recorded a double-digit…

Total volume sales of fresh food in Japan continue to record marginal growth in 2023, mainly driven by foodservice as the channel recovers from the significant drop during the pandemic. Foodservice volume sales suffered as COVID-19 first hit Japan,…

Total volume sales of fruits in Japan continue to rebound in 2023, mainly driven by foodservice’s performance following the channel’s strong declines during the pandemic. Foodservice volume sales of fruits had suffered throughout 2020 and 2021, when…

Total demand for meat in Japan has remained fairly stable in 2023, supported by the ongoing recovery of foodservice sales, which is offsetting the decline in retail. Like many categories, foodservice volume sales of meat experienced significant…

Total volume of nuts in Japan are gradually rising in 2023, mainly driven by the rebound in foodservice demand. Foodservice volume sales had suffered throughout 2020 and 2021 with Japan following quasi-states of emergency and states of emergency.…

Total volume sales of pulses in Japan continue to grow in 2023, albeit slowly, mainly driven by the further rebound of foodservice. Throughout 2020 and 2021, foodservice volume sales of pulses in Japan suffered, as several cities, such as Tokyo,…

Total demand for starchy roots in Japan continues to improve in 2023, mainly driven by foodservice and retail channels. Like many categories of fresh food, foodservice volume sales of starchy roots experienced significant declines at the height of…

Total demand for sugar and sweeteners in Japan remains stable in 2023 compared to the previous year, with foodservice volume sales partially offsetting the decline in retail volume sales. Foodservice volume sales had suffered throughout 2020 and…

Overall demand for vegetables in Japan continues to increase in 2023, mainly driven by the more impressive performance by foodservice. Like many other categories of fresh food, foodservice sales of vegetables in Japan suffered significant declines at…

Avian influenza outbreaks throughout 2022 contributed to rising input costs across the supply chain, resulting in strong double-digit unit price increases for eggs. Between infection-related deaths and intentional culling of flocks to limit further…

Despite deflationary trends across fish and seafood, volumes continues to decline in 2023, particularly in retail. This follows a difficult 2022, when some types of fish and seafood experienced double-digit declines in retail volume terms. As…

After a year of strong foodservice growth in 2022, fresh food is experiencing slowdowns in out-of-home consumption occasions. Over 2023, foodservice outlets have been recording slower growth in single digits, representative of decreased flexibility…

While industries continue to recover from pandemic-related disruptions, fresh fruits continue to face other external challenges. Notably, increasingly volatile climate shifts are having an intensifying impact on harvest calendars. For key states such…

With local consumers increasingly concerned about tense economic conditions in 2023, shopping preferences have continued to shift in favour of cost convenience. This has been particularly evident through the ongoing resilience of foodservice volumes,…

Supply chain disruptions and heightened inflationary pressure continue to present challenges across all packaged food and fresh food categories. Food markets face a particular test with elevated inflation, even as the pandemic’s effects on markets…

Retail volumes continue to marginally fall in 2023, as competition from processed foods threatens demand for pulses in the US. Evolving lifestyles and inconsistent daily routines continue to make it increasingly unappealing for consumers to take…

While strong foodservice growth continues to fuel starchy roots, retail volumes are fluctuating. Notably, potatoes continues to see declining retail demand, signifying a longer road to recovery than previously hoped for. Disruptions to the harvesting…

While 2022 saw an easing of retail volume declines for sugar and sweeteners, at-home demand continues to fall in 2023. The category is being increasingly influenced by a combination of health trends as well as economic pressures. Despite continuing…

Despite expectations for deflationary trends as markets continue to emerge from post-pandemic conditions, fresh vegetables continue to experience rising costs. Labour, transportation, and raw materials, as well as global socioeconomic unrest, have…