Western Europe

Most fresh food categories were negatively impacted by extreme weather conditions in the UK and other countries over 2022 and 2023, which fluctuated between extreme heat and droughts and very wet climates. However, this was not the case for nuts, as…

Nuts saw strong growth in current retail value terms in 2023 although this was primarily due to the ongoing impact of inflation. Nonetheless, the category also saw a return to growth in retail volume terms after recording declines in the previous two…

Like all other fresh food categories, the nuts category has been greatly affected by problems related to the entire production chain. General increases in production and transportation costs, including the significant increase in shipping costs, have…

Nuts in Germany, usually seen as a healthy and appetising snack, became increasingly expensive in 2023 because of rising inflation. This has impacted consumers’ food choices and how they spend their money. Since nuts are often considered a treat,…

Sales in nuts manage to remain in positive volume figures, with growth stronger in foodservice and institutional volume than seen in retail volume. This is because consumers have returned to out-of-home lifestyles following the era of the pandemic…

Meat in the UK continues to see persistent inflationary pressures stemming from higher production costs, particularly in the areas of animal feed and energy. This has spilled down to consumers in the form of increased unit prices, combined with a…

The volume of poultry and pork being consumed at home saw a small rebound in 2023 after a substantial decline in sales in 2021 and 2022, although sales remain below pre-pandemic levels. This growth was primarily driven by consumers shifting away from…

In recent years, the meat category in Italy has been going through an uncertain phase, especially regarding supply. Several factors, such as high breeding costs and feed shortages, are negatively affecting the development of the meat category.…

Retail demand for meat in Germany experienced another decline in 2023, influenced by several factors that reshaped dietary habits and consumer preferences, such as concerns about the health impacts associated with meat consumption, sustainability and…

Meat is seeing more positive volume growth in 2023, compared to 2022, despite the category experiencing some of the steepest price rises overall. That said, cheaper meats, such as pork, have compensated somewhat for the declines seen in more…

Fruits in the UK are experiencing persistently high input costs, impacting their overall consumption. Despite the recommendations for higher fruit consumption, local consumers are struggling to meet these targets. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis…

Inflation had a significant impact on consumer spending behaviour in 2022 as the cost of living rose sharply which led to a notable decline in sales of fruits in retail volume terms, with the category continuing to record a small decline in sales in…

In 2023, fruit growers faced numerous challenges related to climate change. For example, severe flooding affected many growing areas in regions in the central north such as Emilia-Romagna, which lost a large part of its cherry crops. This situation…

While not dramatically, retail volume sales of fruits in Germany declined in 2023. Economic factors such as rising prices and inflation are likely to have contributed to the decline; higher food costs and reduced purchasing power among consumers…

Sales in fruits are seeing a mixed performance, as the category finds a balance between value and volume – lower unit prices support volume growth, whereas inflationary pressures mean higher value but lower volume consumption, especially regarding…

2023 has presented considerable challenges and complexities for fresh food in the UK. Families are increasingly turning away from traditional staples such as fresh meat, fresh fruits, and vegetables due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. This…

Spain saw a return to relative normality in 2023 with the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the health crisis to be over. All COVID-19 related restrictions had been lifted by July 2023 which helped to boost consumer confidence and resulted in…

After the negative events that characterised 2022, including the war following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and high rates of inflation, retail volume sales of fresh food started to grow again in Italy in 2023. Italian consumers continued to…

As the effects of the pandemic gradually waned and had little impact on consumers and their purchasing patterns in 2023, inflation and price increases took the lead as the main socioeconomic factors shaping demand for fresh food in Germany. Despite…

Climate factors are influencing fresh food in France in 2023. After the significant heatwave in the summer of 2022, 2023 saw more rain with some hot spells and droughts in certain areas, which affected crops in the agricultural regions in different…