This blog delves into how sustainability has emerged as a pivotal opportunity for consumer appliance manufacturers to resonate with consumers amidst a cost-of-living crisis, emphasising energy efficiency, food waste solutions, and packaging recycling.
Australians are moving away from supplement nutrition drinks and meal replacement, and instead consuming a wider range of sports nutrition, especially sports protein powder and protein bars. Older consumers are the key demographic driver: whilst historically, older generations preferred meal replacement products, they are now consuming more protein-based options.
The search for flexibility is a key theme running through company strategies in alcoholic drinks – more so now than ever. The nature of competition is gradually shifting, as maturity and changes in consumer behaviour prompt companies to diversify and seek opportunities outside their traditional areas of specialisation. The ready-to-drink (RTD) sector is a shared expansion focus.
Taking care of a pet is going beyond nutrition and calorific intake. A more holistic approach is being applied in managing a pet’s health with attention being paid to longevity and quality of life. Beyond pet food, it is pet dietary supplements that are enabling pet owners not just to manage health issues but to enhance their pet’s overall health and wellbeing.
Across various markets worldwide, plant-based and vegan labelled foods have become fixtures. While the term “vegan” is unambiguous and long-standing, the term “plant-based” has achieved popularity more recently. Euromonitor’s health and wellness data allow the state of play to be accurately accessed – are foods labelled “vegan” selling more or less than foods labelled “plant-based”?
The turbulence of the last few years has left on-trade alcoholic drinks in a precarious state. The rise of retail was already underway prior to the pandemic, but the shift is becoming increasingly entrenched in much of the world. On-trade volumes are still notably below 2019 levels, while retail continues to climb. That partly reflects still-incomplete pandemic recovery, but also likely indicates a more structural adjustment. What do the changing patterns mean for on-trade engagement?
The increase in hybrid work with more time spent at home made consumers value their personal space and perceive a greater need to refresh it by using efficient and value-added methods. This has made the paint sector more attractive, making expansion opportunities particularly more attractive geographically, and across channels, with increases in spending on both branded and private label innovation evident.
Cost-of-living pressures continue to challenge Australian consumers in 2023, despite recent falls in inflation and the stalling of interest rate increases by the Reserve Bank of Australia. Previous rises in the headline rate placed greater pressure on mortgage holders, with property investors hiking rents at a time of heightened demand driven by a simultaneous recovery in post-pandemic immigration. In this context, affordability remains key, but other global trends are playing an important role.
The post-pandemic recovery of beauty and personal care decelerated in 2022, tempered by high inflation, rising unit prices and overall economic uncertainties, which continued to impact the daily lives of consumers in Australia.