Western Europe

Despite the easing of inflationary pressures in Italy over 2023, price increases and thus inflation rates remained high in the country. Therefore, price and value remained the most pressing concerns for many consumers when choosing to shop for their…

Discounters in Finland registered stagnant current value growth in 2023, as inflation remained high and the Finnish economy weakened. Discounters proved a more attractive choice to consumers seeking affordable brands and private label. The location…

After two years of solid growth, direct selling experienced a decline in current value terms in 2023. However, performances varied within direct selling in 2023 with some categories continuing to perform well in 2023, but especially those with a…

Direct selling has always been a marginal retail channel in Finland, and has in recent years seen a clear decrease – sales fell in 2023 for the seventh year in a row in current value terms. Even more worryingly, direct selling underperformed…

The geopolitical developments of 2022 and 2023 have had a big impact on retail in Italy. Russia's war in Ukraine continued in 2023 with no sign of resolution at the time of writing, while the emergence of further instability in other parts of the…

In 2023, convenience retailers in Finland witnessed only marginal current value growth, with much of this fuelled by high levels of inflation. Sales have suffered from lower purchasing power caused by the rising cost of living, with consumers…

Increased growth in the elderly population in 2023 continued to fuel growth of AFH tissue and hygiene value sales in the Netherlands as the elderly generally need significantly more care than younger people. This is true for both hospital care and…

Trends in hospitals and the healthcare system in Italy have been influencing the performance of away-from-home (AFH) tissue and hygiene through 2023. In 2022, Italy faced an increase in hospitalisations for health issues other than those connected to…

Away-from-home tissue and hygiene in Ireland reported robust value growth in 2023, lifted in part by higher unit prices. Away-from-home tissue performed particularly well aided by strong demand for AFH wipers. Pandemic cleaning habits continue to…

In 2023, away-from-home tissue and hygiene recorded an uplift in value sales, while volume sales were challenged by rising prices. Horeca operators faced reduced profit margins in 2023; the result of price hikes in operating costs due to a rising in…

The cumulative turnover of foodservice wholesale in January to August 2023 witnessed a notable increase compared to the previous year. This uptick in foodservice turnover has been a significant driver behind the growth in away-from-home tissue sales…

It was another tough year for appliances and electronics specialists in Italy in 2023 with the category seeing a decline in current value terms for the second consecutive year. Sales slumped in 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 before recording a…

Appliances and electronics specialists in Finland witnessed further decline in 2023, in volume and current value terms, as the economy fell into recession. Sales of ovens, cooktops and furniture-covered appliances were most affected as consumers were…

Apparel and footwear specialists continued to record single-digit growth in current value terms in 2023 as the category continued on the path to recovery. Despite this sales remained lower than pre-pandemic levels as elevated inflation and a sharp…

The slowdown in the economy has not hit apparel and footwear specialists in Finland as hard as grocery retailers. Pent-up demand for clothing purchases since the pandemic, especially to wear at parties and celebrations, has sustained sales growth in…

Demand for soft drinks recorded a spike in the off-trade channel in 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions included home seclusion and the closure of on-trade establishments. After two more years of positive volume growth, sales registered a slight decline…

Depopulation in Italy from 2021-2040 will result from negative natural change, with positive net migration unable to reverse this demographic trend. While urbanisation continues, significant cities will contract, in line with the shrinking…

Wipes overall saw current value sales flatline in France in 2023. General purpose wipes declined deeply in both volume and current value terms, with pandemic-inspired habits falling away. Though local consumers continue to wash their hands more…

Consistent with the observations across tissue and hygiene, wipes in Denmark saw pronounced increases in retail price points, which impacted category performance. Higher prices for wipes were driven by cost inflation, covering factors like energy,…

Vending saw dynamic current value growth in Greece in 2023, though sales remained far below the level seen in 2021. Vending in Greece declined dramatically after the closure of ThesGala-Pies Cooperative’s fresh milk vending machines, which had…