Consumer Health

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession since World War II. In Q4 2020, the end of the pandemic started as countries began administering effective vaccines among the population; however, vaccine distribution…

The briefing examines how personalised healthcare market is evolving. The report also provides insights on the countries most ready to use personalised healthcare services, and the potential impact on the pharmaceuticals and medical sectors.

The briefing introduces the Cities Households Necessities Spending Index. The index ranks 1,075 cities by household expenditure on non-discretionary items, namely food, housing, and clothing and footwear. This analysis focuses on 160 major cities.…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…

Now in its seventh edition, this report explores the top digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this edition touch on topics such as second-hand shopping, community group buying,…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. In 2023, global inflation is expected to ease from its peak in 2022, but remaining significantly above-trend. Geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market are…

Analgesics achieved strong double-digit growth in 2023 amidst stable consumer demand and rising unit prices caused by inflation. Systemic analgesics is outperforming topical analgesics in 2023, a trend that has been prevalent throughout the review…

Growth of analgesics in 2023 can be mainly attributed to the full recovery of daily activity post pandemic. The main contributors here were the full operation of manual labour intensive industries (predominantly construction), a stronger flu season…

In 2023, consumer health is no longer influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, as everyday life has normalized in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some categories, such as cough, cold allergy (hay fever) remedies, which were negatively impacted during the…

With high inflation as a result of the war in Ukraine, as well as the aftermath of COVID-19, prices have risen sharply, driving value sales growth in consumer health in Croatia. Volume sales, meanwhile, are beginning to return to their pre-pandemic…

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) continues to rebound following the declines during the COVID-19 pandemic and the slow recovery in its aftermath. Unit prices have been driven up by inflation resulting in double-digit current value growth in 2023,…

During the last couple of years, the flu season was virtually non-existent as a result of Croatians staying at home and, when venturing out in public, wearing face masks, maintaining social distance and frequently washing their hands. This…

Dermatologicals continues to achieve strong growth in 2023 driven by health and wellness trends and premiumisation in some product categories. Rising unit prices in response to inflation, which has impacted the entire consumer health category, has…

Rising consumer demand for medicated skin care products continues to boost sales of dermatologicals in 2023. The desire for well-groomed and healthy skin is extending from beauty and personal care into dermatological products, although products in…

Dietary supplements is a dynamic consumer health category, which benefits from frequent new product launches year-round. In 2023, the category is witnessing strong double-digit current value growth due to strong consumer demand and rising unit prices…

The COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, and rising cost of living have exacerbated mental health concerns amongst Croatian consumers. As such, they are increasingly seeking dietary supplements and vitamins that boost their mood and reduce the symptoms…

Consumers are increasingly health conscious and digestive health is among the top priorities for a number of reasons. Many Bosnians continue to live unhealthy lifestyles and eat poorly, which are negatively impacting digestive health. In addition, a…

Constipation remains one of the most common digestive problems amongst Croatians. For those suffering from constipation, laxatives are considered the easy, go-to solution, especially for those with reduced mobility or time constraints. Consumers are…

Herbal/traditional products is witnessing a strong performance in 2023, amidst stable consumer demand and rising unit prices in all categories. Inflation has been a key trend driving up unit prices of herbal/traditional products. While the COVID-19…

Driven by a greater consumer focus on health and wellness, sales of herbal/traditional products are recording further growth in 2023. There is a growing preference for herbal/traditional over standard products as herbal medicine is deeply rooted in…

Paediatric consumer health achieved strong current value growth in 2023, largely in response to rising unit prices and inflation impacting consumer health products in general. Consumer demand for children-specific consumer health products remains…

The preference for herbal/traditional products has grown in recent years, driven by the rising demand for natural and clean ingredients. This trend is evident across the whole of consumer healthcare, but is particularly prominent in paediatric…

Sports nutrition is performing well in 2023 thanks to renewed consumer demand in the post-pandemic period, which is helping the category to surpass pre-pandemic sales levels. Generally, sports nutrition products are used by both professional athletes…

Sports nutrition is performing exceptionally well as the gym culture in Croatia is gaining momentum. Despite limited budgets and low income levels in the country, going to the gym and partaking in other sporting activities are becoming an integral…

Vitamins is witnessing one of the highest growth rates within consumer health in 2023, thanks to robust consumer demand driven by health and wellness trends. Vitamin intake and supplementation is gaining importance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with…

The pandemic has encouraged several consumer behaviour changes in terms of the purchasing and consumption of vitamins. Croatians are now taking preventative health more seriously and vitamins and supplements are being taken by those who never…

Weight management and wellbeing continues to record strong current value growth rates in 2023, driven by the popularity of health and wellness trends, which is having a significant impact on consumer attitudes and purchasing patterns. COVID-19 is no…

Weight management and wellbeing has a very strong foundation to maintain its current consumer base and expand upon it as around 35% of children and 65% of adults are either overweight or obese in Croatia. For the last decade, Croatians have developed…

Consumer demand for wound care products remains stable in 2023, despite the significant unit price increases which had only a mild effect on retail volume growth. Conversely, current value growth has reached double-digits due to the price rises.…

Retail sales of wound care in Croatia grew with the Russian invasion of Ukraine as the public purchased basic wound care products to donate to those in Ukraine. The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a list of items suitable…

Sales of analgesics return to their pre-pandemic performance in 2023. After the pandemic, seasonal colds and flus circulated more in the country as consumers socialised more without wearing masks, and sales of analgesics have returned to their usual…

Demand for both adult and paediatric analgesics continued to grow in retail volume terms in 2023. Such products are widely used in Poland, particularly in the case of pain which is fleeting or immediate. With the rapid pace of modern life, consumers…

Despite general economic instability and a rise in prices, the analgesics category in 2023 looks set to achieve a positive performance. However, the current value growth rate is likely to be slower than in the previous year. This can be attributed to…

The market witnessed the shortage of some paediatric analgesics towards the end of the review period, causing alarm among parents in the Czech Republic. For example, the shortage of children's fever suppositories (Paralen Sup), which was most…

Many OTC categories in Estonia, including cough and cold, experienced strong decline during COVID-19; however, sales are returning to their pre-pandemic performance in 2023 as viral illness are circulating more following the lifting of pandemic…

The consumer health industry in Poland registered a decline in constant value terms in 2023, following the static performance of the previous year. This was against a backdrop of rising inflation, exacerbated by the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine,…

Despite ongoing economic instability and the high rate of inflation, the consumer health market in Romania is witnessing steady growth in 2023. Notably, it is the categories of vitamin and dietary supplements, cough, cold and allergy (hay fever)…

In 2022, consumer health in the Czech Republic was challenged by medicine shortages, which, to some degree, continued in Q1 2023. The lack of some medicines in the Czech Republic and throughout Europe was caused by the disruption of global supply…

Whilst the category continues to record growth in 2023, the particularly high growth level seen in the previous year could not be maintained. 2022 was a strong year for the category as consumers returned to their pre-pandemic lifestyles following the…

The majority of subcategories within cough, cold and allergy remedies recorded positive growth in retail volume terms in 2023. This was due, in a large part, to a return pre-pandemic lifestyles, which facilitated the spread of the influenza virus and…

Following the return to normality in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, with no more lockdowns or movement restrictions, there has been an increase in the spread of cold and flu viruses, as well as a widespread rise in issues caused by hay fever and…

In 2022, cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies was marked by increases in demand for products to soothe sore throat and cough complaints. This development was a result of extremely high morbidity throughout the year. In the first half of 2022,…

Sales of dermatologicals have benefited from the return to normal activities following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions. Consumers are out in public again and socialising and are consequently looking to treat any conditions to ensure thy…

Most types of dermatologicals saw an upward sales trend in retail volume terms in 2023, although the rate of expansion was lower than that seen in many other consumer health categories. Despite the increasing incidence of diagnosed skin diseases…

International players with broad portfolios continue to lead the way in dermatologicals, with Bayer Romania the top-ranked company. Bayer Romania’s Canesten, the best-selling product in both topical and vaginal antifungals, is expected to maintain…

Dermatologicals is projected to continue to post strong retail current value growth in 2023. Increasing retail value sales have, on the one hand, been influenced by rising unit prices, amid a highly inflationary climate. In addition, hair loss…

Post-pandemic habits are driving the growth of dietary supplements in 2023. During COVID-19, sales of dietary supplements increased in Estonia, with consumers seeking products to aid immunity and remain healthy, and sales continue to be supported by…

The popularity of dietary supplements continued unabated in 2023. Despite the easing of the pandemic, Poles remained keen to purchase such products in order to help boost their immune systems and to lead healthier lifestyles. Demographic trends, in…

As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, consumers have become more informed, leading to continued benefits for dietary supplements. In 2023, combination dietary supplements dominate the market, accounting for a significant portion of overall value sales.…

Dietary supplements enjoyed strong retail volume and current value growth in the wake of the Coronavirus COVID-19) pandemic. However, as the threat of the virus eased and related restrictions lifted, the category experienced stabilisation. Consumers…