Serbia

Plant-based milk is expected to register healthy current value and volume growth in 2022. As yet, plant-based cheese and yoghurt do not register any discernible value sales, The growth is supported by increased allergies, such as lactose intolerance,…

Although direct selling saw dynamic growth in current value terms in 2022 this was actually barely above inflation levels. In 2021 direct selling in Serbia started on the path to recovery from the hit it took during the first year of the COVID-19…

New store openings within the modern grocery retailers channel helped fuel growth in current value terms in 2022, albeit the number small local grocers and food/drink/tobacco specialists declined. For example, Delhaize Serbia, the second largest…

As COVID-19 fears subsided and restrictions were eased some non-grocery retailers saw a boost to sales, but especially those channels related to activities outside the home. For example, with consumers starting to travel home and abroad again there…

Retail e-commerce in Serbia continued to see dynamic growth in 2022, even outpacing the sharp spike in growth seen in 2020 following the outbreak of COVID-19. Retail e-commerce in Serbia has grown considerably since the start of the pandemic, with…

Retail e-commerce continued to see more dynamic growth than offline retail in 2022 in current value terms with companies continuing to invest in setting up, expanding and improving their online presence. Local and international retailers have been…

Baby food is witnessing robust growth in retail volume and current value terms as consumers return to their pre-pandemic lifestyles. Parents are spending less time at home and therefore have more limited time for cooking children’s meals. At the same…

In 2023, butter and spreads continue to register strong current value growth, but minimal volume growth. High inflation, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, is dampening retail volume sales. The slight volume growth is driven mainly by butter, which is…

The local cheese industry is facing challenges in 2023, as imported products are favoured by retailers. In February 2023, the Serbian government introduced an import duty of 30 dinars per kilogram of cheese to protect domestic production from the…

In 2023, daily lifestyles returned to greater normality in terms of freedom of movement after the COVID-19 pandemic. Busier consumer lifestyles out of the home underpinned an increase in on-the-go consumption and the return to foodservice outlets.…

Milk production in Serbia is facing significant challenges in 2023. The decrease in the production of raw milk has led to a shortage of milk on retail shelves since the third quarter of 2022, with several Serbian regions facing a shortage of raw…

The return to pre-pandemic lifestyles is encouraging on-the-go consumption of other dairy products. Retail volume sales of chilled dairy desserts and chilled snacks are both benefitting from this trend, since they are considered good snacking…

As Serbians returned to pre-pandemic lifestyles in the latter half of the review period, retail volume sales of yoghurt and sour milk was pushed into decline. In 2023, consumers are still spending more time outside of the home and are enjoying eating…

In 2023, analgesics is set to see strong growth supported by rising prices in the context of generally high rates of inflation. After strong growth in 2020 due to stockpiling and decline in 2021, the category returned to growth in 2022 and has…

The second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023 saw declining demand for many areas of OTC healthcare. This was linked to high inflation and the related decline in disposable incomes. Consumers have turned away from buying non-essential products…

Although the threat from COVID-19 is largely perceived to have past, many consumers continue to worry about how people will react if they sneeze or cough in public. Volume growth of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies is helping to drive the…

The decline in consumers’ disposable income due to rising prices is dampening demand for consumer health products that are not seen as essential, such as many dermatologicals products. In the current economic climate in particular, Serbian consumers…

Dietary supplements is set to experience decline in 2023 for two primary reasons. Firstly, the pandemic is over, and many Serbians are less concerned with protecting themselves against COVID-19. Secondly, because of the high rate of inflation and…

According to research, 36% of Serbian citizens admit that they do not care enough about their diets, and this causes digestive problems, with 43% complaining of indigestion, heartburn, and other digestive problems. Indigestion and heartburn are the…

In 2023, Serbians remain positively disposed towards herbal/traditional products. When it comes to natural medicines and herbal preparations, only 26% of Europeans overall use them in defence against viral infections, but Serbians are significantly…

The increase in current value sales expected in paediatric consumer health in 2023 is mainly being driven by rising prices. Meanwhile, volume sales are being negatively impacted by consumers becoming more selective about what they buy. Waning…

The sports nutrition category is expected to see continued dynamic growth in 2023. As Serbians have returned to pre-pandemic lifestyles, they have spent more time outdoors and in gyms. Moreover, the experience of the COVID-19 crisis boosted consumer…

The vitamins category saw a significant decrease in volume sales of both single vitamins and multivitamins in 2022, which is set to continue in 2023. According to trade interviews, in the first quarter of 2023 volumes declined by 30% compared with…

Disposable income decline and growing prices are leading to a drop in retail volume sales of weight management and wellbeing in 2023. Economising consumers are visiting pharmacies to purchase necessary products, but, as consumers have become more…

Consumption of wound care is being stimulated by Serbians’ return to pre-pandemic lifestyles. As consumers spend more time outside their homes, the incidence of the kind of minor injury that requires wound care is rising. In addition, the health and…

The combination of rising prices and economic uncertainty is curbing demand for cooking ingredients and meals in Serbia. Local consumers are acutely aware of the increase in food prices, fuel and other goods, and are equally feeling the impact of…

Sunflower oil prices continued to rise in 2023 boosting current value sales, although consumption has fallen, with retail volume sales registering a second year of decline. Sunflower oil has been losing share in terms of retail volume sales, as olive…

In the post-pandemic era, many Serbians have resumed their busy lifestyles and this has stimulated demand for meals and soups. Frozen ready meals is witnessing the fastest retail volume growth thanks to its convenience and the diverse choice of…

Volume growth of sauces, dips and condiments has slowed slightly in 2023, but remains healthy as consumers look for more affordable options. Serbians are spending less time at home as they visit foodservice outlets more frequently, and are keen to…

Sweet spreads is facing a slowdown in retail volume sales in 2023, with Serbians returning to their pre-pandemic lifestyles and spending less time at home. Consumers are opting to eat fewer meals and snacks at home and are visiting foodservice…

Inflation continues to be high in 2023 and as such though baked goods is expected to register current value growth, both constant value and volume sales are expected to fall marginally. This fall in volume sales is also due to a declining population.…

In spite of continuing high inflation, breakfast cereal is expected to register healthy constant value and volume growth. With consumers leading increasingly busy lives, they appreciate the convenience of breakfast cereal. Breakfast cereal is also a…

Processed fruit and vegetables is expected to be one of the better performing food staples in 2023, registering moderate volume growth. Consumers’ busy lifestyles supports volume growth. While growing fresh produce is a long-established tradition in…

In spite of continuing high inflation, volume sales are expected to increase slightly and constant value sales are also expected to register a moderate increase. Processed meat continues to account for most volume sales, with chilled processed meat…

Overall, rice, pasta and noodles is expected to register moderate constant value and minimal volume growth in 2023. However, the performance is not uniform across rice, pasta and noodles. While pasta continues to account for most value sales, it is…

Inflation continues to be high in 2023 and as such though staple foods is expected to register current value growth, both constant value and volume sales are expected to fall marginally. This fall in volume sales is also due to a declining…

Bottled water in Serbia experienced a volume sales recovery in 2023, driven by the return to pre-pandemic lifestyles, with consumers embracing on-the-go water consumption. Functional bottled water witnessed the fastest volume sales growth, attributed…

As prices rise and disposable incomes decline, Serbians are reassessing their daily purchases, notably reducing consumption of non-essential items like carbonated beverages. Health-conscious consumers are shifting towards healthier alternatives and…

The substantial rise in coffee prices has decelerated the growth of coffee volume sales in Serbia. Notably, only coffee pods have experienced an upward trend, primarily due to an expanding consumer base and relatively lower market maturity. The…

Powder concentrates persist as a traditional product familiar to many Serbians. The area boasts several robust local players in both liquid and powder concentrates, fuelling further development. The escalating prices and decline in disposable income…

Energy drinks in Serbia have experienced notable volume sales growth, primarily driven by the return to pre-pandemic lifestyles. The busier pace of life further encourages the consumption of energy drinks. Leading players in this market retain their…

In 2023, the consumption of hot drinks in Serbia faced a slowdown due to rising prices and a decline in disposable income. Consumers responded by reducing consumption volumes, shifting towards more affordable brands, opting for private label…

Juice, deemed non-essential, witnessed a decline in consumption in 2023, influenced by soaring prices and a decrease in disposable income within Serbia. Economically conscious consumers reduced juice consumption or migrated towards more affordable…

The return of consumers to pre-pandemic lifestyles has triggered intensified competition with on-trade establishments. With consumers spending more time outside their homes and seeking on-the-go options, on-trade sales are experiencing slower growth…

High inflation and a decline in disposable income hinder the further growth of RTD coffee in 2023. Despite this, RTD coffee maintains volume sales due to its growth potential in an unsaturated category. Key players like Nescafé face intensified…

Ready-to-drink (RTD) tea faces challenges due to soaring prices and a decline in disposable income among Serbians in 2023. As consumers prioritise spending on essentials, the demand for RTD tea diminishes. Consequently, producers of RTD tea curtail…

Soft drinks in Serbia faced significant challenges in 2023 due to a decline in disposable income. The economic downturn prompted Serbians to reassess their purchasing habits, focusing primarily on essential products. With price sensitivity on the…

Sports drinks in Serbia witnessed a notable increase in volume sales attributed primarily to the expanding consumer base. The awareness surrounding sports drinks continues to grow, with a broader spectrum of Serbians, not just athletes, becoming more…

The escalation in prices coupled with a decline in disposable income has adversely affected the sales of tea in 2023 within Serbia. Additionally, as consumers gravitate towards a return to their pre-pandemic lifestyles, spending more time outside…

Increasing authoritarianism and corruption are resulting in mass protests, although fiscal discipline is leading to better state finances. Economic momentum is slowing, owing to high inflation and reduced external demand, but foreign investment…