Western Europe

Although the political scene is facing instability, Sweden will soon join NATO, whilst its state finances remain sustainable. A slowing economy has been hampered by elevated food and energy prices, but inflation is falling and infrastructure upgrades…

Total packaging volumes in baby food saw slow and stable growth in Sweden over 2020-2022, with the pandemic and associated economic uncertainties having little impact on the category. Swedish parents consider their children’s nutrition to be a…

Total confectionery packaging volumes saw a marginal decline in 2022. Although chocolate confectionery and gum saw increases in their packaging volumes in this year, the decline witnessed in sugar confectionery was enough to drive the overall…

Unit volumes of dairy packaging declined for a second year in Sweden in 2022, normalising following the surge in demand the category witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Lockdowns, fears of viral transmission, and foodservice closures…

The COVID-19 pandemic provided a significant boost to volume sales of meals and soups in Sweden, as consumers remained within their homes for fear of contracting the disease. Meals and soups categories such as ready meals, frozen pizza, meal kits,…

Light vehicle sales were still recovering in 2022, with SUVs and crossovers remaining the most popular car type. The government’s efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and to encourage more sustainable lifestyles are aiding the rise of battery electric…

Plant-based dairy packaging volumes continued to see strong growth in 2022, due to the rise in consumer demand for plant-based products due health, ethical, or environmental reasons. Swedish consumers are particularly conscious of the impact their…

After seeing exceptional growth in 2020, packaging volumes of processed fruit and vegetables declined in Sweden in 2022, as consumer habits returned to normal following the pandemic. When the pandemic emerged, fears of viral transmission kept…

Processed meat and seafood saw dynamic volume growth in Sweden when the pandemic emerged in 2020, as consumers sought to stock up on food that they could store, to avoid the risk of viral transmission. From 2021 onwards, however, as consumers resumed…

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in Sweden, fears of contracting the disease and restrictions on mobility in the country led to an increased interest in home cooking. Sauces, dips and condiments consequently saw dynamic growth in packaging…

Despite already seeing growth in packaging volumes in 2020 and 2021, sweet spreads continued to see an increase in volumes in 2022, although at a slower rate. While many consumers returned to work, school and social lives, they continued to lead more…

After over two years of Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions preventing holiday-goers from flying to destinations, there were strong opportunities from 2022 to make up for lost time. However, 2022 brought other challenges to the industry, mainly…

The second half of 2022 brought economic uncertainty to what had started as an optimistic year in travel and tourism. Nevertheless, travel remained a priority that consumers wanted to spend on, especially after saving up during the two years of…

The briefing examines how the furniture industry is performing globally and in the largest countries in terms of furniture output. The report also provides data for production, market size, imports, exports, industry costs, industry profitability and…

Sustainable designs and eco-friendly practices have become increasingly important in the construction of new hotels. Germany, known for a commitment to environmental sustainability, has embraced “green” building practice in hospitality. Many new…

The global economy is facing weaker growth and increasing fragmentation, as a result of rising geopolitical tensions, especially due to the war in Ukraine and the US-China strategic rivalry. Protectionism, industrial policy and a focus on resilience…

Following the first year of volume growth in inbound arrivals in 2022, after a Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that almost paralysed the travel industry worldwide, 2023 has seen further upward development in the number of international tourists in…

After the severe difficulties and challenges faced in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in 2020, optimism in the industry and the joy of experiencing holidays again from the consumers’ side have driven travel in Germany in 2022-2023.…

While sales of analgesics are seeing mid-single-digit growth in current value terms in 2023, sales have seen a steep decline in retail volume terms. The main reason for this disparity between value and volume growth in analgesics is the sharp rise in…

The World Health Organisation declared the end of the COVID-19 health crisis in 2023 with this having an overall negative impact on sales of consumer health in retail volume terms. For example, demand for products with a strong focus on immune health…