Retailing

In 2023, health and beauty specialists in Nigeria experienced robust growth, buoyed by high inflation that supported sales of essential items. Consumers prioritising their well-being contributed to the positive growth of this channel. Pharmacies…

Moroccan consumers continue to demonstrate traditional purchasing habits in the health and beauty specialists channel, with wholesalers playing a crucial role in supplying perfumeries. This distribution model offers cost-effective options for…

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 2023, beauty specialists and pharmacies drove growth in overall health and beauty specialist retailers in Canada. Beauty specialists continued to benefit from the post-COVID-19 surge in demand. With the channel already exceeding pre-pandemic sales…

Despite continuing high inflation, performance for health and beauty specialists in Bulgaria was stable, with constant value sales rising slightly. There was also further opening of outlets. Value sales through pharmacies continued to account for…

Driven by significant price increases, overall health and beauty specialists saw strong growth in value sales in Austria in 2023, roughly at the same level as retail offline overall. Consumers' willingness to spend in this category has generally…

All categories of health and beauty specialists in Argentina recorded triple-digit or very close to triple-digit increases in retail current value sales growth in 2023. Optical goods stores registered the fastest growth in terms of retail current…

The general merchandise stores channel in the Philippines, which is dominated by department stores, saw buoyant growth in current value terms in 2023. An increase in mobility, including the return of consumers to their physical offices, contributed…

General merchandise stores in the Czech Republic, which comprises department stores and variety stores, experienced weaker value growth in 2023. Department stores in Czech Republic continue to lose appeal among locals. As it stands, there are…

Lockdown restrictions imposed on shopping centres during the pandemic were particularly challenging for department stores in South Africa, which often occupy prime rentals in such locations. For Woolworths, the situation was worsened by civil unrest…

In 2023, general merchandise stores in Nigeria faced a notable decline in sales, primarily due to shifting consumer preferences driven by high inflation. As the cost of living rose, consumers found themselves grappling with reduced purchasing power,…

Morocco is embarking on a new trade strategy focused on bolstering local production and fostering job creation, signalling a transformative shift in the market. Collaborative efforts between the government and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce…

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…

General merchandise stores continued to tap into changing consumer demand trends in Canada in 2023. High interest rates coupled with a persistently high rate of inflation caused Canadian consumers to change their shopping habits towards the end of…

Muted performance for general merchandise in 2023

General merchandise stores continued to significantly outperform retailing overall in terms of value sales growth due in the main to the continuing expansion and success of variety stores. It was one of the areas least affected by the generally sharp…

The competitive landscape of general merchandise stores in Argentina witnessed significant disruption towards the end of the review period as Falabella closed its stores and left the country. As a result, the Mexican enterprise Coppel was the only…

2023 proved to be a challenging year for discounters in the Philippines, in light of a limited store count and fierce competition with other retailers. With the revival of hectic pre-pandemic lifestyles, including the return of consumers to their…

High inflation has led to a much weaker economy in 2023, with the increased costs of living benefiting discounters in the Czech Republic. As household spending tightened, price became the overriding factor when purchasing most household goods. Czechs…

In 2023, discounters in South Africa continued to record dynamic growth across all indicators. Despite decelerated food inflation, estimated at an average of 8.5% over 2023 as a whole compared to a 14-year high of 14.4% in March, South African…