North Macedonia

Health and wellness trends continue to drive consumption of yoghurt and sour milk products in 2023. Plain yoghurt is very popular in North Macedonia due to its use as an everyday ingredient to prepare healthy meals and snacks. Younger consumers…

Demand for wound care products remains stable and, with rising unit prices in line with inflation, it is seeing strong retail value growth in 2023. Both major categories - sticking plasters/adhesive bandages and gauze, tape and other wound care - are…

In 2023, current value sales of wipes witnessed a second year of double-digit growth in North Macedonia. Much of this growth was fuelled by inflation which led to price increases. Despite lowering birth rates and inflationary pressures, baby wipes…

Local consumers showed a growing preference for wine over beer in 2023, which resulted in moderate total volume growth. Consumer demand for still red, white and rosé wines was robust, resulting in stable volumes in the off-trade, and even stronger…

Weight management and wellbeing tops the list of fastest growing categories as the health and wellness trend continues to influence consumers in North Macedonia in 2023. Also, a growing number of people are struggling with obesity, high blood…

Vitamins is experiencing strong double-digit value growth in 2023 due to rising unit prices and rampant inflation in the country. Volume sales, meanwhile, have normalised following a strong boost during the pandemic as consumers bought vitamins in…

Toilet care saw modest retail volume growth in 2023 against a backdrop of stable consumer demand. Due to the significantly rising unit prices and the impact of inflation, toilet care also posted robust double-digit current value growth. Innovation…

Total current value sales growth for tobacco in North Macedonia in 2023 was up markedly on that recorded in 2022. The improvement was primarily attributable to unit price hikes resulting from tax increases and inflationary pressures fuelled by the…

Tissue and hygiene in Macedonia was challenged by high inflation for the second consecutive year in 2023. Although, the rate of inflation is lower compared to 2022, it remained well above normal levels in Macedonia. High inflation has stifled volume…

In 2023, tea repeated its success from the previous year by yet again achieving a strong retail value growth rate and continuing on a path towards full recovery in retail volume terms following the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Significant…

In 2023, sweet spreads witnessed a moderate decline in retail volume, primarily driven by reduced consumer demand for chocolate spreads and jams and preserves. These categories faced challenges due to the ongoing negative impact of health and…

Health and wellness trends continue to impact the performance of sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks in North Macedonia. Increasingly, consumers view a growing number of products within this category as a healthier snacking alternative,…

Overall surface care recorded a moderate decline in volume sales terms in 2023, driven by volume falls seen in all product areas apart from kitchen cleaners, and descalers. As a result of rising unit prices, all surface care subcategories recorded…

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…

Under the influence of the health and wellness trend, consumer demand for sugar confectionery in North Macedonia continues to decline in 2024. Healthier lifestyles are leading to lower consumption of sugar and sugary foods overall, with the image of…

Staple foods in North Macedonia is recording moderate volume growth in 2023 as consumer demand stagnates due to a shrinking consumer base as a result of negative demographic trends in the country. Value sales, meanwhile, are seeing strong…

Sports nutrition is an extremely popular category in 2023, especially sports protein powder and non-protein products. These products are equally used by professional body builders and those who exercise regularly and want to build muscle. As a…

In 2023, the sports drinks category saw off-trade volume growth as demand was driven by the health and wellness trend and the growing gym culture, which has continued to accelerate, despite the demographic problems facing the country. The health and…

Spirits registered robust volume growth in 2023 with some consumers in North Macedonia drinking more spirits in place of beer and wine. With total volumes already well recovered from the pandemic in 2022, demand for spirits continues to rise…

Soft drinks achieved minimal off-trade volume growth and double-digit off-trade value growth in North Macedonia in 2023 amidst rising unit prices and the broader impact of inflation. The on-trade recovery of soft drinks continued during the year,…

Snacks in North Macedonia enjoyed stable retail volume growth in 2024. Inflation is slowing but unit price increases are still common due to ongoing geopolitical crises and the war in Ukraine. This continues to negatively impact input costs,…

Heated tobacco products was by far the most dynamic of the main categories within smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in North Macedonia in retail volume growth terms in 2023. While this was partly because sales are still emerging…

Despite continuing high inflation, and also a falling population, skin care in North Macedonia registered some volume growth in 2023. It was also the best performing beauty and personal care product in terms of current value growth. Premium skin care…

In 2024, savoury snacks continue to gain attention among local consumers thanks to regular new launches. With inflation easing in 2024 retail volume growth is gaining momentum, despite the ongoing demographic challenges and shrinking consumer base in…

In 2023, all sauces, dips, and condiments witnessed positive moderate retail volume growth, except for mayonnaise and mustard, which experienced a moderate decline. This decline can be attributed to various factors, including the impact of health and…

While convenience continued to drive demand for RTDs in North Macedonia over the review period, the category faced strong declines in 2023. Local consumers, especially young adults, are opting to drink spirits such as gin and whisky which are…

The health and wellness trend, which is exerting a strong influence across soft drinks, has had a particularly marked impact on the development of the RTD tea category. With increasing awareness of the rise in the prevalence of obesity and other…

RTD coffee continued to rebound from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in 2023, as consumers returned to their familiar hectic lifestyles in the absence of movement restrictions and once again demanded soft drinks for on-the-go consumption. RTD…

Rice, pasta and noodles is registering moderate retail volume growth in 2023 thanks to the stable performance of rice and pasta. Retail volume sales of noodles, meanwhile, are recording marginal decline due to reduced demand for plain noodles as…

Retail tissue in North Macedonia witnessed limited volume growth in 2023, due to the lacklustre performance of toilet paper. Consumption has been impinged by cost of living pressures and significant price increases across all retail tissue products,…

The war in Ukraine had a negative impact, with the resultant energy crisis leading to high inflation and dampening volume sales somewhat. As a result, while overall retail registered a healthy increase in current value sales in 2022, constant value…

E-commerce registered double-digit current value growth in 2022, as well as healthy constant value growth, in spite of high inflation. The high inflation was due to the war in Ukraine, which led to soaring energy prices, which in turn led to higher…

Consumer demand for retail adult incontinence products in North Macedonia remained stable despite the cost of living challenges facing consumers in 2024. These can be essential products for the elderly as well as those struggling with lifestyle…

Despite demographic challenges, consumer demand for processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat remains stable in North Macedonia in 2023, and volume sales have recorded a marginal increase in the year. Value sales, meanwhile, have seen…

Consumer demand for processed fruit and vegetables remains stable in North Macedonia in 2023 due to the influence of the burgeoning health and wellness trend in the country. Younger consumers, in particular, are increasingly opting for processed…

Performance was muted for premium beauty and personal care in North Macedonia in 2023. Inflation continued to be high and rising costs hit profit margins. With this backdrop, current value sales of premium beauty and personal care products increased…

Overall polishes remained on its downward trajectory in 2023 in terms of volume sales growth, with Macedonian consumers reprioritising their purchases and eliminating those products deemed to be unnecessary, which included polishes for the most part.…

Although economic freedom has worsened and political instability persists, state finances have improved and taxation is low. North Macedonia’s economy has struggled under the weight of elevated inflation, but this is falling and foreign investment…

Paediatric consumer health is achieving strong double-digit value growth in 2023 as a result of consumer demand for high-quality consumer health products positioned for children, coupled with rising unit prices and the impact of inflation. Paediatric…

Other hot drinks recovered moderately in retail volume terms in 2023, having seen a continuous decline in the COVID-19 crisis and during the immediate post-pandemic period. The impact of the high rate of inflation was felt on the unit prices in the…

Other dairy is witnessing robust growth in 2023 thanks to rising unit prices, as a result of inflationary pressure, coupled with relatively stable and uninterrupted consumer demand for products in this particular category. The prevalence of home…

Though there was double-digit growth in current value sales in oral care in North Macedonia in 2023, both constant value and volume sales fell. Continuing high inflation, as well as a declining population, dampened value sales. As such, with…

In 2022, though there was healthy growth in current value sales, constant value sales fell. The war in Ukraine had a negative impact, with the resultant energy crisis leading to soaring inflation and dampening volume sales. With such economic…

In 2023, nappies/diapers/pants in North Macedonia is under pressure from declining retail volume growth. The falling birth rate is directly influencing sales, as fewer babies are born in the country. The migration of younger adults is also an issue…

Menstrual care in North Macedonia saw volume sales decline in 2023 as consumers made cutbacks in the face of higher costs of living. Consumers chose to economise and prioritise only essential purchases of menstrual care due to pressure on disposable…

Though there was double-digit growth in current value sales in men’s grooming in North Macedonia in 2023, volume growth was minimal and constant value sales fell slightly. Continuing high inflation, as well as a declining population, dampened value…

In 2023, meals and soups experienced continued robust retail volume growth, propelled by the solid performance of shelf-stable ready meals and frozen pizza. Despite being the largest category, soups faced a moderate decline due to shifting consumer…

Mass beauty and personal care still accounted for significantly more value sales than premium in North Macedonia in 2023. However, with inflation still being high, there was only a slight increase in constant value sales, as rising costs hit profit…

Laundry care in North Macedonia saw double-digit current value growth in 2023, thanks to rising unit prices against a background of high inflation. Overall volume sales within laundry care, however, were largely stagnant in 2023, with diminished…

Juice achieved stable off-trade volume growth in 2023 with sales supported by the continued consumer demand for the largest product categories, especially nectars and juice drinks. In addition, the continued shift from carbonates to juice is having a…