South Africa

Demand for air care in South Africa continued to rise in 2023, albeit with marginally slower volume sales growth compared to the previous year, as the country experienced a surge in inflation. This contributed to higher company revenues and profits…

Since the pandemic, general dynamics in consumers’ lifestyles have dramatically changed in South Africa. Ongoing remote/hybrid working models for employees mean that many of them continue to spend greater time at home than they would have compared to…

In 2022, airlines in South Africa faced unexpected challenges, leading to devastating consequences for the country's major competitors. Mango, the low cost carrier of South African Airways, had its licence suspended for two years, while Comair, the…

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…

Unlike in many countries, which only saw the closure of foodservice establishments, the sale of alcohol was banned completely in South Africa to help control the spread of the COVID-19 virus in 2020. This meant that, also unlike most other nations,…

When it comes to pain management, analgesics is a popular category, specifically acetaminophen. For many consumers, acetaminophen is their go-to preference as it is easily available across various channels. Additionally, it can be bought without…

With many consumers struggling financially in South Africa, apparel accessories are regarded as non-essential purchases. With the high levels of inflation that impact the daily cost of living for South Africans, many consumers are reducing their…

For many South Africans, apparel and footwear is perceived as a non-essential purchase, with price-sensitive consumers reducing their discretionary spending in 2023 due to the impact of high inflation on food, fuel and even electricity. Consumers are…

The performance of apparel and footwear specialists in South Africa continued to improve in 2023, due to consumers’ revived routines such as returning to the workplace and shopping centres. As inflationary pressure has been impacting disposable…

In 2023, sales via appliances and electronics specialists in South Africa were mainly driven by high inflation and currency depreciation, which directly influenced prices. The channel was also affected by lower demand from cash-strapped consumers,…

South Africa is no longer facing the restrictions of the pandemic, employees have returned to offices and consumers are generally spending greater time outside of the home. This also means that hospitals are no longer full of patients requiring…

Baby and child-specific products in South Africa remained resilient in 2023, despite a struggling economy. Many consumers continued to prioritise their children’s wellbeing, supporting further demand across the category. This ongoing positive…

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…

Flexible plastic and folding cartons remained popular packaging types for dried baby food in South Africa (the second largest category in baby food packaging), as they are considered more lightweight and easy to transport, making them convenient for…

During 2023, many South Africans have been battling to survive financially. Due to consumers being cash-strapped, they have been prioritising the purchase of essential products, including items such as food, fuel, and mortgage or rent. With this…

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…

Bath and shower in South African remained an essential category for many local consumers in 2023. Despite being financially challenged, much of the country’s population perceives bar soap as essential and tends to be included in most consumers’…

In 2023, demand for beauty and personal care in South Africa continued to rise, despite many local consumers experiencing financial difficulties due to the cost-of-living crises. As a result, South Africans prioritised their expenditure and where…

Bath and shower products were recording the strongest unit volume growth rates in beauty and personal care packaging in South Africa in 2022, which can be attributed to the increasing hygiene awareness among consumers as well as their changing…

In 2022, flavoured/mixed lager saw the strongest performance of all beer categories, with double-digit total volume growth. While this growth was derived from a relatively low base when compared with more mature beer categories, such as standard…