North America

Ice cream, as a product area, in Canada is experiencing a slowdown in value growth in 2024, despite a slight increase in unit prices. Consumer demand for this frozen treat seems to be melting away for several reasons. One contributing factor is the…

Hypermarkets experienced slower current value growth in the US in 2023 than in the previous year. This was largely a response to the still difficult inflationary environment in the country. Many US consumers continued to put off purchases of…

In 2023, the hypermarkets channel in Canada faced increased competition from online platforms, discounters, and convenience stores, which are offering more convenience, value, and variety to consumers. Online platforms, such as Amazon, Shopify, and…

In 2022, sales of plant-based alternatives to meat and seafood grew at a slower pace, leading to speculation that this is no longer a top trend. Due to rapid inflation and supply chain disruptions since the pandemic, consumers looked for…

2022 observed a shift back to foodservice volumes rather than retail within Canadian staple foods. As Canadians returned to the workplace and restrictions lifted, consumers started to once again spend time participating in activities outside of the…

Due to the negative health effects of COVID-19, during the pandemic shoppers began buying beverages to boost their health, preferring products which claimed benefits such as immune system support. Demand grew for functionality, and thanks to the…

The momentum regarding the general health and wellness trend preceded even COVID-19, as local consumers searched for ways to prioritise their wellbeing through soft drinks. As the pandemic substantially impacted the lives of consumers, interest in…

With higher prices negatively impacting the affordability of nutritious foods for US consumers, players in snacks and government authorities have set long-term intervention strategies to expand access to healthier snacks. President Biden hosted the…

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, home seclusion lasted considerably longer than expected in Canada. When these restrictions were first introduced in 2020, home snacking surged and then remained constant through 2021 and 2022. While hybrid lifestyles…

The nature of modern life has led to a US consumer whose default setting is increasingly one of a high level of stress. This has naturally been a boon to hot drinks with calming claims, particularly those in the herbal tea space, although other…

Since the drastic increase of at-home consumption of hot drinks in response to the pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns, demand for hot drinks appeared to have somewhat normalised in 2022. Local consumers are enjoying hot drinks, usually in the form of…

As plant-based dairy has become increasingly mature in the US, the large dairy producers in the industry have now introduced plant-based varieties to the market in all categories within dairy products and alternatives. For instance, the Babybel…

2022 witnessed some significant movement within dairy products and alternatives in Canada. Despite only recording modest growth, brands of both dairy and plant-based alternatives are competing on all fronts for their respective consumer base. With…

Interest in labels and certifications that highlight positive and/or “healthy” attributes is increasing, as consumers are looking for functionality and are taking a more balanced approach, instead of simply consuming foods with reduced ingredients…

While the impact of the pandemic started to gradually wane in Canada towards the end of the review period, echoes remained in 2022. For one, wellbeing and health trends were at the forefront of consumers’ minds as they were still concerned about…

Single-serve fresh ground coffee pods that are compostable are gaining significant traction in the US hot drinks market, championed by brands like Bugle Call Coffee and San Francisco Bay Coffee. Bugle Call Coffee offers convenient and compostable…

Thin wall plastic containers were the leading pack type in coffee packaging in 2023, and are expected to record growth in this category over the forecast period. This trend is attributed to the prevalence of fresh ground coffee pods in Canada, with…

The COVID-19 pandemic has largely ended, but there has been little respite, either for the hot drinks industry specifically, or for the US as a whole, with inflation quickly replacing COVID-19 as the top concern of both companies and consumers. The…

The value of hot drinks in retail continues to grow. This is due to both an increase in sales volume and high unit prices, driven by inflationary pressures. Instant coffee and herbal teas are especially fast-growing categories in terms of volume…

In 2020, although turning to decline, hosiery displayed remarkable resilience, standing out for its performance amongst various categories in apparel and footwear. This resilience stemmed from the continued demand for non-sheer hosiery, which became…