Staple Foods

The Tunisian economy continue to struggle and its agricultural sector is particular in negatively impacted by drought. Inflation still remains high, especially for food, and this is reflected in a muted performance for staple foods, with minimal…

Similar to 2022, 2023 is set to be a challenging year for staple foods. While most of the supply chain issues from the pandemic have subsided, commodities still present an issue, some to more elevated levels, due to the persistence of the war in…

Rising production costs due to the energy crisis, labour shortages, and the increasing price of raw materials across the entire supply chain led to strong rises in the prices of staple foods in 2022. High single-digit price increases are also…

As noted in many countries around the world, consumers in the United Arab Emirates experienced weakened purchasing power in 2022 due to the impact of inflation on goods and services. However, in 2023, unlike in many other markets, consumers’…

Retail sales of staple foods and alternatives in the Philippines recorded moderate growth in volume terms in 2023. This was in spite ongoing inflationary pressures, with food prices posting an upward trend, thanks to energy price hikes and…

In 2023, the landscape of staple foods is marked by several key trends and factors. Volume growth is generally down as households try to buy less and save money due to squeezed incomes. This decline in volume growth is offset by value growth driven…

Retail volume sales of staple foods in the Czech republic suffered a decline in sales in constant value terms in 2023, in the face of the rising cost of living, which curbed consumer spending. The country’s post-pandemic recovery was also derailed by…

Staple foods in Thailand is seeing an overall positive performance, in both value and volume terms. That said, the category continues to be affected by inflationary pressures which are pushing up prices, alongside the cost-of-living crisis which is…

In 2023, Tanzanian consumers grapple with soaring food prices, particularly for staples like bread, driven by global wheat price hikes and local production challenges due to prolonged droughts. The government supports local brands, raising custom…

In 2023, staple foods in Taiwan was affected by the resumption of travel and eating out as key trends with the lifting of Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. Thus, demand shifted back from retail to foodservice as a result of less time spent at…

In 2023, staple foods in Switzerland experienced positive growth, driven by a combination of factors. Convenience continued to be a key factor contributing to the growth of staple foods, as Swiss consumers sought quick and easy meal solutions to…

In 2023, staple foods in Sweden witnessed several key trends, influenced by consumer preferences, economic factors, and the ongoing health and wellness movement. Staple foods, including rice, pasta, and noodles, which saw a strong uptick in demand…

In 2023, staples in Sri Lanka witnessed a shift in consumer preferences. Baked goods like fresh bread and pastries have gained popularity as more prepare their meals at home. Health-conscious are consumers seeking diverse breakfast cereals.…

Staple foods in Spain has experienced stagnation in retail volume terms, albeit with a slight improvement compared to the decline seen in the previous year. The lack of movement in retail volume terms largely relates to the significant impact of…

Staple foods, closely associated with economic conditions in South Korea, is experiencing slower growth rates in many categories due to recent external economic factors. Elevated inflation rates have led to an upward trend in retail value sales…

2023 is proving to be a tough financial year for South Africans due to double-digit food inflation, rising interest rates and rolling blackouts. Many categories have experienced single-digit unit price growth, which is placing pressure on volume…

Retail volume growth is being seen across the board in staple foods in Slovenia in 2023 as demand continues to increase steadily in the year. Processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat is the fastest growing category in volume terms, with sales…

In 2023, despite a stabilisation in the unit price growth of staple foods, the purchasing power of Slovaks failed to recover. Factors such as higher interest rates, rising oil prices, and more expensive services continued to significantly limit their…

Staple foods in Singapore continued to experience marginally higher average unit prices from the lingering effect of the inflationary wave in 2022. Climate change and geopolitical risks further impacted global food production and supply chains,…

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…

Sales of stale foods have continued to see healthy growth in retail volume and value terms in 2023, with sales benefiting from a booming economy. The market saw several challenges in 2022 from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and global inflation which…

In the backdrop of sustained high inflation in Romania in 2023, the resulting high cost of living significantly impacted the retail sales of basic food products, defining the landscape for staple foods during the same year. Analysis of statistics and…

In 2023, Qatar faces significant challenges following the end of the World Cup and the positive effects that had on the industry. Post-event, manufacturers are navigating efforts to sustain sales levels. For example, many food production companies…

Staple foods overall is recording a decline in total volume but an increase in value, primarily due to rising prices, in Portugal in 2023. The foodservice sector has recovered to its 2019 sales levels, significantly aided by tourism. However, on-site…

In 2023, the Polish government implemented new regulations aimed at supporting bakeries and pastry shops amid escalating gas prices. Effective from April 7, these regulations broadened the eligibility criteria for purchasing gas at a regulated price…

Peru has been contending with a steady escalation in prices since 2021, a situation exacerbated in 2022 and 2023, affecting a wide array of consumer goods and services. The country's significant reliance on imported products and supplies means that…

Volume sales of staple foods are expected to grow in 2023. Moderate inflation rates after a challenging 2022 will play a key role in the recovery of categories such as baked goods as well as rice, pasta and noodles. However, breakfast cereals is…

Panama’s sales of staple foods are buoyed by extensive urbanisation, the rise of modern grocery retailers and wider product selection. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the resumption of pre-pandemic lifestyles, Russia’s invasion of…

Pakistan’s economy continues to struggle and the government secured a further USD3 billion bailout from the IMF in July 2023, avoiding an impending default. Inflation continues to be very high and is being driven by several factors, including…

Staple foods in Oman has experienced consistent growth throughout 2023, despite the escalation in prices attributed to inflation and other heightened production costs. Certain categories are deemed indispensable to Omani households, yet Omanis remain…

Many producers of staple foods are facing challenges in balancing the rising cost of energy, ingredients, packaging and logistics in 2023. While the prices of many products are rising some of the leading grocery retailers have played a major role in…

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…

Staple foods saw a decline in both retail and foodservice volume sales in 2023, despite most categories being considered essential by local consumers. Poor economic conditions, exceptionally high inflation and limited consumer spending power forced…

Value sales growth across staple foods remains strong in 2023 with broader inflationary pressures a key contributor to this. While fuel costs have stabilised following the initial shock in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, the local government’s…

Political and economic repercussions, such as regional conflicts, inflation, and currency depreciation, resulting from the 2021 coup have cast a shadow on Myanmar's staple foods in 2023. Retail prices have persistently surged across various…

In 2022, commodity prices experienced a historic surge, largely attributed to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Moroccan economy faced a significant slowdown due to a combination of drought and inflation, resulting in reduced domestic demand amid…

In spite of rising costs and prices in the past two years, sales of staple foods have been growing in Middle East and Africa. The essential nature of many staples has helped maintain demand for them, even if consumers have been opting for cheaper…

Retail volume sales of staple foods in Mexico continue to rise in 2023, although performances of the categories vary, depending on the level of price increases over the year and affordability. Despite prices trending to normalise with inflation rates…

Retail sales of staple foods in Malaysia recorded continued growth in volume terms in 2023. This was in spite of rising food prices, thanks to the weakening of the local currency, the ringgit, against the US dollar, which brought about higher import…

Staple foods in Lithuania has been less impacted by the economic uncertainty than other packaged food categories in 2023. The price inflation of 2022 due to the rising cost of logistics, raw materials and packaging, slowed significantly in 2023,…

Staple foods in 2023: The big picture

Staple foods in Latvia in 2023 is enjoying a period of modest recovery, following the significant price inflation of 2022. Although some growth has been observed, it is primarily a rebound from the previous year's downturn. The industry overall…

After a pandemic-induced spike in retail demand for staple foods in Latin America in 2020, growth slowed in real value terms and declined in volume terms in 2021 in the face of a strong foodservice rebound. Post-2021, the volume performance has been…

In 2023, Laos is facing a new set of economic challenges attributed to the global surge in fuel prices, the devaluation of the Lao Kip, and rising inflation. As of April 2023, inflation increased significantly, primarily driven by the devaluation of…

In 2023, staple foods perform well due to their essential nature. There is a shift towards convenience, as consumers fully resume pre-COVID-19 habits. Bread is the main staple, with rice highly popular. There is also a move to healthier variants as…

In 2023, the Kenyan staple foods market is navigating through a period of high food inflation, leading to significant increases in unit prices. This economic environment has prompted consumers to prioritise essential grocery items while curtailing…

Kazakhstan has strong trade links with Russia and its war in Ukraine is negatively impacting the economy and leading to high inflation. While skyrocketing international oil and gas prices is boosting the local economy, its usual outflow to the global…

Staple foods in Jordan has been impacted by price inflation in 2023, especially in rice. Jordan imports 90% of its rice from the US which has suffered from a drop in its rice yield, thus putting upward pressure on the price of rice. Foodservice sales…

Staple foods in Japan is set to grow in current value terms in 2023, largely driven by unit price increases due to inflation and increases in production costs. Although many manufacturers had already implemented price increases in 2022, the costs of…

Overall, 2023 was a challenging year for the staple foods sector in Italy, characterised by stagnation in retail sales volumes. However, the market saw considerable current value growth driven by persistent inflationary pressure. During the second…