Malaysia

In 2024, dog food in Malaysia is set to maintain the same trend seen in 2022 and 2023, with slow retail volume growth, and stronger current value growth. One of the factors driving growth in the last few years has been consistent low growth in the…

Cat food is set to see solid retail volume and current value growth in Malaysia in 2024, with higher growth rates than those seen in 2023, but not as high as in the years prior. The rising cat population is one major factor in the continued strong…

The trend of label-free packaging in PET bottles is gaining momentum, particularly supported by top brands like Spritzer in bottled water. Spritzer launched label-free, 100% recyclable bottles for its silica-rich Natural Mineral Water, marking a…

In 2023, Starbucks launched its instant coffee mixes, such as the Starbucks VIA Spring Blend, featuring small portions packaged in flexible paper pouches and flexible paper sachets of 12 sticks in a multipack. This move towards smaller portions and…

Hygiene awareness was supporting sales in wipes in Malaysia in 2023. Notably, we see a healthy performance in personal wipes and intimate wipes, with the latter being attributed to greater numbers of women in the workforce (including in senior…

Tissue and hygiene in Malaysia was being affected by inflationary pressures in 2023, notably so with regards to food inflation impacting consumers’ spending power. This is even noted in staples such as rice, placing extra pressure on consumers’…

We note a trend towards premiumisation in retail tissue in 2023 in Malaysia. This is evidenced by Vinda Deluxe (Vinda Malaysia Sdn Bhd) continuing to grow its share. This player uses strong marketing and promotional campaigns across online platforms,…

The ageing population in Malaysia acted as a key driver of growth in retail adult incontinence in 2023. We also note that Rx/reimbursement adult incontinence is not relevant in the country, which further supports growth in a retail sense.

Sales in nappies/diapers/pants in Malaysia were driven by the performance of disposable pants in 2023. Such products are seen as the most convenient option, as they are easy to change and suitable for active babies and small children. Notably, the…

Standard towels maintained their popularity in menstrual care in Malaysia in 2023, thanks to their affordable prices and good protection. Despite the rise in demand for added-value options in tissue and hygiene (eg eco-friendly products, etc.),…

The rebound of tourism and foodservice continued to boost growth in away-from-home tissue and hygiene in 2023. Indeed, the post-pandemic landscape means borders have reopened, travel and tourism have resumed, and foodservice and hospitality…

The number of vending machines increased in Malaysia in 2023, with several offering health supplements and others dispensing skin care products. There are even machines offering products as diverse as cacti and NFTs, suggesting that the novelty…

Like hypermarkets, the supermarkets channel struggled for growth during the pandemic as consumers adjusted their shopping behaviour. Due to the restrictions in place and the fear of contagion, alongside a shift to home working arrangements, many…

One of the most important pandemic-related impacts on small local grocers was the huge shift towards working from home. This deprived many operators of an extremely important consumer base of busy, urban professionals looking for a quick and easy…

Following reopened borders and lifted restrictions in 2022, Malaysia's retail sector witnessed a surge in consumer revenge spending throughout the year. However, starting from the second quarter of 2023, the trend showed signs of decline as consumer…

Celebrating its first year in the Malaysian market, TikTok Shop has become the fastest-growing emerging e-commerce player in Southeast Asia, operating as an online marketplace within the TikTok video-sharing platform. The player attributes its…

Hypermarkets was one of the retail channels hit hardest by the pandemic as demand for large-format modern grocery retailers plummeted. Quarantine lockdowns and restrictions on movement, combined with widespread fears of contagion, discouraged…

Mr DIY continued to expand aggressively in Malaysia in 2023, cementing its lead in a highly fragmented competitive landscape. The success of Mr DIY mainly lies in its ability to provide a large variety of good-value products under one roof, thereby…

Guardian continued to lead health and beauty specialists overall in 2023, as well as health and personal care stores, with Watsons as its closest competitor at number two in both cases. These players are key contributors to the segment’s growth in…

In line with global trends, department stores in Malaysia are losing appeal due to growing interest in fast-fashion retailers such as H&M, Zara, Uniqlo, and Padini which offer the latest fashions at relatively affordable prices. Small boutique stores…