Western Europe

Malta is mostly free, helping businesses to flourish, but corruption is relatively widespread compared to regional peers. Foreign investors flock to the island, eager to participate in the financial services sector, but dependence on tourism and…

A lack of corruption, government stability, and high levels of economic freedom characterise Luxembourg. Strength in financial services and adaption to remote working has served the economy well, which could outperform peers going forward.…

Liechtenstein showcases governmental stability, minimal corruption, and high economic freedom. Its robust financial sector and swift adaptation to remote work fuel its economy, potentially outpacing peers. However, an aging population may strain…

Rapid population expansion in the Netherlands in 2021-2040 will be mainly driven by positive net migration rates. Ageing will remain a key trend, influenced by climbing longevity and low fertility rates, as older groups swell. Urbanisation will…

Industry stakeholders are increasingly debating between sustainability and technology leadership strategies in the appliances market. As margins continue to shrink, leadership in either category is critical to maintain continued competitiveness. In…

Iceland benefits from its low levels of corruption, political stability and economic freedom. The economy is set for a strong performance, leans heavily on sectors like tourism and fishing, alongside a stable currency and progressive tax incentives…

According to the Health Service Executive (HSE), only 13% of Irish children fulfil the national physical activity recommendations, with at least one in five children being overweight or obese. Due to increasing concerns surrounding the topic, the…

Functionality has been the defining trend within soft drinks in 2022, with products being fortified with ingredients such as vitamins and zinc. Post-pandemic trends have led consumers to look for improved nutrition to support their immune system and…

The Irish health agenda, alongside post-pandemic health awareness behaviour, has drastically changed snack purchasing habits among local consumers. In December 2021, the new HFSS (High Fat, Salt and Sugar) rules were unveiled by the Advertising…

Despite Ireland remaining loyal to its tea-drinking heritage, exemplified by positive performances for Barry’s Tea and Lyons in recent years, local consumers are following health and wellness trends and shifting towards fruit/herbal tea, as the…

Irish dairy products are perceived as offering exceptional quality across the world, with a high rate of exports among local products which strengthen the Irish dairy brand perception – Ireland has been classified as the EU’s leading exporter of…

The pandemic strengthened an already growing health and wellness trend within cooking ingredients and meals in Ireland. The HFSS (High Fat, Salt and Sugar) regulations, which were unveiled in December 2021 by the Advertising Standards Authority for…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

Technological advances in 2024 will continue to reshape consumer behaviour. This annual report explores the top five digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this report’s edition…

Since mid-2022, inflationary pressures and the decline in disposable incomes have had an impact on Cannabis product consumption in Greece. On the one hand, the cost of living crisis is taking its toll on consumer spending on Cannabis products. These…

Spain’s birth rate continues to fall with couples having fewer children, starting a family a later in life or even choosing not to have children at all. According to the latest data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE), Spain’s birth…

Sales of traditional watches saw a strong recovery in 2021 as COVID-19 restrictions were eased and there was a partial recovery in demand. This positivity was short lived, however, with the global economy being plunged into uncertainty in 2022…

2023 saw a return to relative normality in Spain with the World Health Organisation 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…

Jewellery witnessed slower growth in retail volume terms in 2023 compared to 2022 with sales remaining well below pre-pandemic levels. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 the price of food and energy has risen sharply, while most…

After a strong recovery in 2021 as Spain started to ease its COVID-19 restrictions demand has since slowed considerably with sales of bags and luggage seeing only a moderate recovery in retail volume terms in 2022 while in 2023 sales stagnated. The…