Greece

Inflation and increased prices of milk resulted in price hikes in yoghurt. This led to consumers turning to private labels, being unable to afford branded options. As a result, private label gained a significant market share, occupying the second…

Plant-based milk is rising in popularity; the consumer base is widening with a growing number of people shifting to plant-based diets for reasons of health and wellness, in addition to avoiding products with lactose. As seen with vegan cheese,…

The consumption of cream has decreased, with prices increasing, leading consumers to reduce their purchases. In addition to high price points, consumers have turned to healthier options, so they are looking for alternative creams that are better for…

2022 was a challenging year for milk production due to high price points. In particular, fodder got much more expensive, and livestock farmers could not feed their animals, leading to a higher proportion of being slaughtered. As a result, the number…

Increasing product costs, rising energy prices, and inflation led to price rises across all dairy products in Greece. This has impacted consumer behaviour, hindered volume demand and limited purchases in line with reduced disposable incomes. There…

Across the review period, innovation was strong on the cheese category. Until recently, Greek law mandated the pasteurisation of milk for health reasons. However, a new legislation framework across the review period allowed cheese production from raw…

Due to the increase in price points, general inflation, and consumers' lower disposable incomes, the demand for butter has decreased. Consumers have looked to make butter last longer, to purchase cheaper varieties or simply remove the product from…

The low birth rate in Greece is a challenge for retail volume sales of baby food. While the price hikes in 2022 and 2023 meant that baby food is set to record a positive current retail value growth, parents are finding it difficult to afford. As…

The wound care category has been subject to price hikes in 2022 and 2023 in the context of high rates of inflation and hikes in production and transport costs. Wound care is not subject to the same regulatory framework as other OTC products and,…

The over-promising claims that weight loss supplements have been making through the years are affecting the category’s performance. Consumers have been losing their trust in the efficacy of weight loss supplements and this is affecting sales. Despite…

Vitamin C and vitamin D have posted dramatic increases in sales since the onset of the pandemic. Consequently, in 2022, sales already started to show signs of decline due to maturity. Vitamin D, which is the largest category, witnessed losses in 2022…

Alongside the re-opening of gyms and the increase in the number of people engaging in sporting activities since the pandemic being growth drivers for sports nutrition, the category also appears to be appealing to a different consumer group. Consumers…

The key growth driver in sleep aids in terms of ingredients is melatonin. The variety and availability of products based on melatonin increased dramatically at the end of the review period. The launch of Procter & Gamble’s ZzzQuil Nature made a…

The re-opening of schools and the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, such as compulsory use of face masks in schools, is leading to strong growth for multiple categories within paediatric consumer health. For example, sales of lice/anti-parasitic…

The retail prices of all NRT smoking cessation aids product types have been subject to significant hikes in 2022 and 2023 and this has led to strong growth in value in those years. The penetration of NRT smoking cessation aids in volume terms remains…

Herbal/traditional cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies has posted very strong growth in 2022 and in 2023 as the category has benefited from the surge in respiratory illness that was seen in Greece in Q4 2022 and Q1 2023 in line with the…

Unlike most other OTC categories, in which marketing activities targeted not only the pharmaceuticals community, but also consumers, this was not previously the case in eye care. Companies would reach out to doctors and to chemists/pharmacists in…

Within OTC digestive remedies, the penetration of herbal/traditional products is growing rapidly. This is because there is significant value growth potential for manufacturers as the premium positioning of herbal/traditional products allows for…

Digestive health has recovered its status as a key growth driver in dietary supplements, with probiotics amongst the best performers in the Greek market. Demand was growing rapidly prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, but the pandemic led to growth…

Dermatologicals has seen demand weaken in the post-pandemic period. While certain COVID-19 related habits, such as the use of hand sanitisers, remain relevant and people in Greece continue to use them much more than they did in the past, this is a…