Asia Pacific

Cities are hubs for spending, with 80% of expenditure expected to be generated by urban areas in 2023. Spending growth in 2023 will, however, be sluggish, as cost of living challenges force consumers to be more conservative in their expenditure. Over…

Wine registered very healthy volume growth in 2022, partly supported by a huge drop in excise duty for locally, produced wine (see below). Another contributing factor to the increased sales was a large influx of Russian migrants, as they looked to…

In contrast to the relatively strong performance of the previous year, sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks saw minimal growth in retail volume terms in 2023. Sales were negatively impacted to a return to pre-pandemic lifestyles, which saw…

Sales of sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks are being boosted by the post-pandemic landscape in 2023, with consumers returning to their out-of-home, on-the-go lifestyles, alongside the revival of tourism. Tourism is a strong factor here, as…

2023 has proven to be challenging for overall sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks in retail volume terms, with sales expected to decline compared with 2022. However, the category is set to see continued retail current value growth. As…

Domestic sweet biscuit manufacturers in Malaysia, notably Munchy Food Industries and Perfect Food, are enjoying the benefits of a strong supply chain in 2023, owing to their ability to source key raw materials such as flour and sugar, locally.…

Sugar confectionery experienced a marked slowdown in growth in retail volume terms in 2023. Rising Inflation, triggered by the energy crisis, was a key contributor to this trend, as cash-strapped households were forced to reduce their expenditure on…

Sugar confectionery is considered as a very mature category in Thailand, with a large number of brands and a fairly fragmented competitive landscape beyond the leading names. Namely, Halls (Mondelez International (Thailand) Co Ltd) takes the lead…

Retail volume sales of sugar confectionery have been struggling to maintain growth in 2023, due to the growing health and wellness trend, as local consumers are increasingly concerned about their sugar intake, as well as seeking to avoid unnecessary…

In 2023, medicated confectionery and standard mints are posting the most significant current value growth within sugar confectionery overall in Malaysia. During the pandemic and as a result of subsequent extremely hot weather, local consumers turned…

Performance for spirits was much more muted than for beer and wine in 2022, with only a slight increase in volume sales. Vodka continued to be the most popular spirit, accounting for over nine-tenths of volume sales. However, in recent years there…

The Pakistani market provides limited access to spirits, and alcoholic drinks in general, with whiskies, gin and vodka the most readily purchased spirits. Consumers in the country have restricted access to and limited opportunities to try new…

Retail sales of snacks in Vietnam saw a more muted performance in 2023 than in 2022, in both volume and constant value terms. Rising Inflation, triggered by the energy crisis, had a considerable impact on purchasing behaviour, with cash-strapped…

Thailand’s full return to normality and tourism in 2023, with no more COVID-19-related restrictions or quarantines, is expected to boost the country’s overall economy and, in turn, positively benefit snacks. Indeed, consumers’ return to out-of-home…

Snacks is set to see an increase in retail current value terms in 2023, with similar trends from 2022 persisting. The prevailing high cost of living and price rises will continue to drive current value growth across all snacks categories. In turn,…

The ongoing inflation in Malaysia is set to continue exerting an upward pressure on unit prices in 2023, albeit at a slightly slower pace than in 2022. This rising trend, notably within the confectionery sector, is impacting consumer behaviour.…

Retail sales of savoury snacks saw continued growth in volume terms in 2023, albeit at a much slower pace than the previous year. Besides inflationary pressures, which caused consumers to become more frugal with their spending, this was due to rising…

Savoury snacks is also benefitting from consumers’ return to out-of-home, on-the-go lifestyles, along with the revival of tourism. It should also be noted that potato chips, a popular category, was not too badly impacted by the era of the pandemic…

Unit prices of savoury snacks, in particular salty snacks, have continued to increase in 2023. This is being driven by steep increases in production costs due to escalating palm oil prices after Indonesia’s export ban, and is expected to result in a…

Savoury snacks in Malaysia is grappling with a persistent disruption in the supply of raw materials in 2023. This supply shortage, coupled with price increases, has led to a surge in production costs, particularly impacting potato chips and other…