Africa

Although cost-of-living crises have been putting pressure on consumers’ purchasing power in a number of countries in Middle East and Africa, they can also provide momentum for consumer health sales. Some consumers, unable to afford visits to a…

Uganda’s economy saw real GDP growth of 5% in 2023 and this provided a boost to sales of some consumer health products. Self-medication is driving growth in consumer health in Uganda as consumers are finding it easier and cheaper to purchase…

A high rate of inflation, averaging 30% in 2023, forced consumers to cut down on spending on non-essential items, and even to reconsider the food they purchased to reduce their expenditure. Rx medications continued to be widely purchased under the…

In 2023, urbanisation, population growth and health and wellness drove retail sales. Most consumers self-medicated as the cheaper option and due to limited access to doctors outside of key cities. An overburdened public health sector and expensive…

Technological advances in 2024 will continue to reshape consumer behaviour. This annual report explores the top five digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this report’s edition…

Demand for wound care is muted, compared with most other consumer health products in 2023. Consumers typically buy these products on a need basis, with only higher-income consumers keeping basic wound care items at home for potential emergencies. As…

Values sales continued to be low for weight management and wellbeing, but there was healthy growth. Obesity is a growing issue in Cameroon and this supported value and volume growth. Also, culturally, curvier women were traditionally perceived as…

With the fear of the pandemic subsiding and the escalating cost of living seeing consumers prioritising essentials, the demand for vitamins has witnessed a deceleration in growth. While still favoured by higher-income consumers, the majority of…

Paediatric consumer health registered moderate current value growth in 2023, partly supported by continuing population growth. Essential consumer health products such as cough, cold and allergy remedies, as well as analgesics, were the most popular…

Herbal/traditional product registered a marginal fall in current value sales in 2023. While the older generation have always favoured herbal/traditional products, among the younger generation, there exists a level of scepticism regarding their…

Poor drinking water is leading to serious digestion problems, with consumers often for instance suffering from diarrhoea, due to the substandard water supply. This is being further exacerbated by climate change, which is leading to increased water…

The growth of dietary supplements decelerated due to a shift in consumer behaviour back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns, characterised by reduced emphasis on vitamins and dietary supplements. Additionally, the escalating cost of living is placed…

Skin diseases across all age groups continues to drive growth for dermatologicals. Skin diseases are common in rural areas due to poor hygiene and in urban areas due to overcrowded neighbourhoods, with many having no access to proper sanitary…

Locally preferred alternatives, like consuming honey, ginger, and lemon infusions, enjoy widespread popularity among the locals. In households with lower incomes, natural remedies often take precedence as the initial choice before resorting to…

Cameroon was not as affected by the energy crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine as many other countries. Rising global energy prices gave a boost to government coffers and helped stabilise the economy. However, ongoing civil conflict, as well as…

The depreciation of the local currency made imports more expensive at the end of the review period. This had a significant impact on the supply of and demand for imported products, in a country where the majority of medication is imported.…

Consumers are increasingly embracing self-medication, especially for minor illnesses, and this contributed to modest growth in 2023, as well as continuing population growth. Analgesics have achieved a substantial penetration rate in Cameroon,…

In adhesive bandages, new technologies and delivery formats have been introduced. Waterproof adhesive bandages have gained popularity, offering protection in wet environments and during activities like swimming. Furthermore, there has been a rise in…

Wound care exhibited modest volume growth in 2023. In the inflationary climate, local brands have emerged as the preferred choice for consumers in lower income brackets, owing to their affordability and accessibility through traditional distribution…

Overweight and obesity have witnessed a surge in Nigeria, particularly in urban areas where the consumption of processed, unhealthy foods high in fats and calories is prevalent. Consequently, there has been an increased demand for OTC medications to…