United Kingdom

Fresh coffee beans was one of the best performers among the various hot drinks categories in 2023, benefiting from premiumisation. In particular, it has been benefiting from single-origin and speciality coffee, as consumers become more concerned…

In 2023, inflation was once again the major factor impacting the performance of tissue and hygiene in the UK. Both retail tissue and retail hygiene experienced high single-digit value growth in 2023, mainly propelled by the high inflationary…

The pandemic increased consumers’ hygiene awareness, leading to a surge in sales of surface care in 2020, when COVID-19 first emerged. Demand for surface care has continued to be strong since, with 2023 seeing higher sales than pre-pandemic levels,…

While demand for home care continued to decline marginally in 2023, overall retail volume sales remained above pre-pandemic levels, as certain habits have persisted in the UK. The explanation for this decline is two-fold: greater mobility has seen…

The global supply chain crisis has heavily affected savoury snacks in the UK, as the category has experienced consecutive years of strong price increases. Adding to the inflationary environment in 2022, savoury snacks recorded even stronger…

Oral care in the UK continued to expand in both volume and value growth terms in 2023. The rising number of local consumers taking care of their oral health at home was one of the main drivers of this growth. Another contributing factor to this trend…

The UK’s dairy packaging market is dominated in unit volume terms by HDPE bottles and thin wall plastic containers. HDPE bottles dominate milk packaging, and are also gaining share in yoghurt, due to their robust barrier credentials. Milk is a…

In 2023, a year characterised by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and high inflation, Poundland was one of the more active players in general merchandise stores in the UK, placing a strong focus on pricing and expanding its product range. In March…

Despite price increases as a result of inflation that continued to drive the local population to adopt more conscious spending patterns in 2023, convenience retailers in the UK maintained a positive trajectory during the year as proximity and…

Demand for toilet care products continued to decline significantly in 2023. The reasons for this decline are twofold: consumers are spending less time at home and thus have less time to focus on cleaning their houses, and secondly, multipurpose…

Air care was one of the top performers in home care in 2023, recording the third highest retail value growth after surface care and home insecticides. In terms of volume, the only formats experiencing volume declines were gel air fresheners and car…

The popularity of street stalls/kiosks has emerged from a shift in consumer preferences towards variety, innovation, authenticity, and casual dining. Overall, 2023 was a positive year for street stalls/kiosks with double- digit current value growth.…

Limited-service restaurants continued to record substantial current value growth in 2023, although the number of transactions and outlets remained stagnant. This was due to multiple factors as the economic environment in the UK continued to struggle,…

The UK’s packaging industry is currently influenced by two prominent trends. Firstly, the widespread use of flexible plastic packaging, especially in areas like cheese packaging, which is being driven by its cost-effectiveness, convenience and…

In 2023, the UK housing market was faced with a combination of economic pressures and a desire for personalisation. Homeowners increasingly opted to upgrade their current homes rather than embark on the often-costly endeavour of relocation. A growing…

For decades, barbecues have been a cornerstone of summertime in the UK, offering a convivial and flavourful way to enjoy meals outdoors. However, recent years have witnessed a significant surge in their popularity, driven by several factors. Firstly,…

Sun care in the UK continued to record a solid performance in 2023, with volume sales fully recovering to surpass 2019 figures. While sun care recorded an increase of 7% in volume terms and 12% in value terms, it is noteworthy that most of this…

Although it remains a much smaller pack type in unit volume terms, flexible paper continues to take share from the dominant packaging format of flexible plastic in countlines, as consumers increasingly opt for sustainable packaging options. This…

In 2024, against the current economic challenges and an observable decline in the dog and cat populations in 2023, a distinctive 6% surge has been witnessed in the small mammal/reptile population in the UK. This rise can be attributed to the…

Unlike larger store formats within grocery retailers, such as warehouse clubs, discounters, and hypermarkets, which have a strong focus on lower-priced products as well as the ability to limit the transfer of increased costs on to consumers, small…