South Africa

In South Africa, many consumers take their mental health very seriously. Mental awareness and assistance for those experiencing mental health problems is easily available in South Africa through various channels. For example, people have access to…

Since 2022, South Africa has been suffering from rolling electricity blackouts. The scheduled blackouts can often occur in some areas around two to three times a day. Moreover, these blackouts often occur during mealtimes. This has created a strong…

Tourism levels in South Africa showed signs of recovery in 2023, despite the macroeconomic backdrop of high inflation and rising food and fuel costs triggered by Russia’s war in Ukraine. This represents an improvement on 2021 and 2022, when…

During the review period, South Africa faced repeated interruptions to the power supply, known as load-shedding. This had a significant impact on businesses, including consumer electronics, as well as consumer lifestyles. However, these intermittent…

After seeing a notable rebound in total volume sales in 2021, due to the lifting of the COVID-19 lockdown bans, and with growth continuing in 2022, the consumption of alcoholic drinks increased to beyond the pre-pandemic level. This was due to the…

South Africa has been facing drinking water supply issues, supporting elevated demand for bottled water compared to pre-pandemic levels, including for still bottled water, despite declining off-trade volume sales as a result of a greater return to…

For many consumers wound care items are considered non-essential and appear rarely in monthly grocery shopping baskets. Wound care products are rarely bought in high volumes or even on a regular basis. Consumers who purchase wound care products only…

The average unit price of milk formula is set to see a double-digit rise in 2023 overall, due to inflation and rising production costs. The rising unit price of milk formula is set to result in a retail volume decline for this category in 2023, as…

The top players in savoury snacks are set to continue to record value share declines in 2023, mainly driven by higher unit prices. The weather continues to hamper the local production of potatoes used in the production of potato chips. While the…

The health and wellness trend is becoming increasingly entrenched in South Africans’ lives, although regular soft drinks such as carbonates retain higher share overall compared to reduced sugar options. While brands are adapting more to this trend,…

Rooibos tea continues to be a growing choice among South Africans due to its local positioning. It is also considered the more suitable option due to its pricing, antioxidant and hydrating effects. This supports the growth of rooibos tea, especially…

The average unit price of leavened bread in South Africa, which holds the highest retail volume share in baked goods, has increased significantly in 2023, resulting in another year of retail volume decline, following its weak performance the previous…

Video games continued to see dynamic growth in current value terms in 2022 as consumers continued to seek entertainment options whilst spending time at home. The category also continued to benefit from the dynamic growth of next-generation consoles,…

During 2023, more consumers suffered from eye health issues due to much more time spent using technology, such as computers and laptops. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, children were unable to go to school or workers to their workplace and…

During the review period, many consumers have been facing financial difficulties as the cost of living in South Africa has been increasing on a monthly basis. For many consumers, their health is an afterthought with most instead prioritising…

Travel and tourism in South Africa has been sustained by the domestic market despite major airlines being grounded in 2022 and an increase in aviation fuel prices. Tourist arrivals from Europe and the US have started to regain momentum in 2023, with…

During the review period, consumers across South Africa became more aware of the importance of leading healthy lives. This trend was facilitated by the COVID-19 pandemic which gave them more time to reflect on their lifestyles. Such a development…

Imaging devices are increasingly under threat from alternative, better value for money products that serve the same purpose, most notably smartphones. Most new smartphones have an imaging functionality that competes with both digital cameras and…

The established remote/hybrid working model since the pandemic has dramatically changed many South Africans’ lifestyles. It comes with challenges such as limited time to perform errands and chores, or manage childcare, whilst also working from home.…

Many consumers in South Africa are price sensitive, but within the context of the review period, they are more cash-strapped than ever before. There are numerous compounding factors reducing the spending power of local consumers, including elevated…