Western Europe

Vending sales slumped in 2023 in Ireland, compared to a better performance seen in 2022. This is attributed to the inflationary environment leading to low consumer spending power, as well as a normalisation effect following the uptick seen in 2022 as…

The Swiss market for traditional and connected watches, renowned globally for its high-quality timepieces, is undergoing an evolution characterised by an expanding interest in various watch types, transcending the boundaries of luxury. A notable…

In 2023, tissue and hygiene in Switzerland posted modest value sales growth fuelled by high inflation.

Retail sales of tissue and hygiene in Austria registered a positive performance in current value terms in 2023, following the significant growth of the previous year. However, this was mainly due to prevailing inflationary pressures, as rising raw…

Supermarkets was facing some ongoing challenges in Ireland in 2023, following on from the change in consumer behaviour which was seen both during the era of the pandemic and also currently, due to the cost-of-living crisis. Similarly to hypermarkets,…

Sales in small local grocers start to creep up again in Ireland in 2023. However, some challenges remain, as this channel also faces competition from other retail options. Whilst small local grocers tend to offer proximity convenience to consumers,…

An ageing population in need of constant care is driving growth of Rx/reimbursement adult incontinence products in Switzerland among both elderly and temporary post-partum incontinence sufferers. Many Swiss consumers are visiting their doctors more…

Rx/reimbursement adult incontinence recorded strong growth in current value terms in 2023 continuing the trend of the previous year. However, this was mainly due to prevailing inflationary pressures, as rising raw material, production and transport…

Retail tissue in Switzerland reported growth across all subcategories in 2023, with toilet paper the largest product category overall. Spending patterns are normalising after the pandemic resulting in steady demand for retail tissue products such as…

Retail tissue in Austria recorded continued growth in current value terms during 2022, supported by an increase in average unit prices. With raw material, energy and transport prices rising substantially, manufacturers were faced with higher…

Retail in Ireland continued to be impacted by inflationary pressures and high utility costs through 2023, affecting consumers and retailers alike. That said, we did witness some easing of pressures later in the year, both in product pricing and…

Retail e-commerce continued to stabilise in Ireland in 2023, following the significant boom seen during the era of the pandemic, when both consumers and retailers alike were forced to embrace the online channel. Whilst footfall has returned to…

The stigma surrounding adult incontinence is gradually subsiding in Switzerland, with adults becoming more confident to purchase retail adult incontinence products. Growing demand for light adult incontinence products is underpinned by the…

Retail adult incontinence in Austria recorded strong growth in current value terms in 2023. While this was partly due to inflationary pressures, such products also experienced a heightened demand, due to the growing number of consumers suffering from…

The interest and demand for personal accessories in Switzerland, encompassing bags and luggage, jewellery, traditional and connected watches, and writing instruments, were poised to remain robust in 2023. However, following two years of robust growth…

Demand for nappies/diapers/pants in Switzerland continued declining at a steady pace in 2023. Significantly fewer babies were born in 2022 and 2023, following the baby boom observed in 2021. The rising cost of living and fears about the future have…

Demand for nappies, diapers and pants in Austria increased in 2023. While many women postponed their plans to start a family during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of babies aged 0-1 years in the population rose in 2022 and remained at a stable…

Demand for menstrual care in Switzerland continues to normalise in the post-pandemic era. Retail volume and value sales posted solid growth in 2023, with the latter fuelled in part by inflation and higher costs of raw materials and production. Since…

Menstrual care in Austria saw only modest growth in current value terms in 2023. Moreover, this increase was entirely attributable to inflationary pressures, as rising raw material and supply chain costs led to an increase in unit prices. The cost of…

Building on the positive momentum from the previous year, jewellery in Switzerland witnessed dynamic growth in 2023, led by the growing demand for costume jewellery. This trend, reminiscent of 2022, underscored shifting consumer preferences towards…