Croatia

Spirits seemed to be the most dynamic alcoholic drinks category in 2019, as the increased disposable income in the year created a wave of curiosity from consumers who were seeking products with a story behind them. In research conducted by magazine ...

In wine, news revolves more around winemakers than wines per se. The government gave in to persistent demands from winemakers and passed a new legislative act on wine in 2019. Local producers had been expressing their concerns about competition from ...

On-trade closed down in mid-March 2020, reopening again on 11 May. Some smaller establishments could go bankrupt due to lack of reserves, and some seasonal outlets which only open in summer have not been able to open at all. However, post-COVID-19 ...

The trend for craft variants continued in 2019, becoming more than a marginal curiosity to a raft of products which were more readily available in retail outlets. According to estimates, in 2019 there were more than 70 active craft breweries in ...

Cider/perry saw strong growth through the review period, as cider/perry was a relatively new drink in Croatia – only appearing in 2010. It should, however, be noted that cider/perry was starting from a low base and is still only selling in relatively...

Croatia’s economy will contract significantly in 2020. Domestic demand will be limited by Coronavirus (COVID-19) measures. Fixed investment will weaken and the tourism sector will experience a marked slowdown. The economy will however, be supported ...

The new law on tobacco products, based on EU Tobacco Directives, brought e-vapour products into the fold. While not introducing taxation on e-vapour products, the new law imposed significant restrictions on e-vapour products, involving aspects like ...

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is not having a major impact on tobacco in Croatia. While manufacturers are working to guarantee supply lines are robust, distribution channels remain largely accessible. As consumers shift to working from home and accept ...

Increased disposable household incomes were reflected in sales of cigars, which continued to register dynamic retail volume and current value growth in 2019. A major contributor to value sales growth was the preference for premium, Cuban cigar ...

The medical profession and government continued their efforts to dissuade consumers from smoking at the end of the review period. Bans on smoking in public places and smoking-related advertising and higher taxation were designed to reduce smoking ...

Croatians prefer showering to bathing, and thus use more shower gel than soap. Half of buyers use these products almost every day. As a result, convenience and time-saving benefits are important. As well as convenience, the other major trend in bath ...

The shampoos category saw a notable improvement in performance in 2019. The main driver was premiumisation. 2019 saw considerable activity by manufacturers in terms of new shampoos with interesting scents and ingredients. Consumers responded ...

Already price-sensitive Croatian consumers have demonstrated a widespread tendency to trade down to cheaper brands and private label as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Premium non-essentials such as deodorants, sun care and fragrances have ...

According to a recent survey, dental hygiene is poor in Croatia, with only 83% of households reporting buying toothpaste in 2018. Mouthwashes were purchased by only 20% of households, and toothbrushes by 45%. Toothpaste is purchased every two months,...

Men’s grooming saw a continued weak performance in 2019, albeit up slightly on the previous year. The category has matured somewhat, and continues to grow modestly. Men’s shaving suffered in 2019, particularly men’s post-shave. This was due to the ...

Despite healthy growth in households’ disposable income, the depilatories category did not see good results in 2019. Growth was slow, mostly due to a lack of novelty. In general, this was one of the beauty and personal care categories to see the ...

Baby and child-specific products in Croatia suffered for a long time as a result of unfavourable demographics, and this remained evident in 2019. This was boosted by a new wave of economic emigration, driving many young citizens to work abroad, in ...

Despite increasing pressure from premium alternatives and consumers trading up, mass products saw continued growth in 2019. This was underpinned by rising disposable incomes among households. The consumer base in 2019 was still largely ...

Seeing the favourable conditions set for consumption growth, fragrances were underperforming at the end of the review period, with growth rates slowing. While previously a very promising category with strong growth in previous years, fragrances ...

New technologies exerted the greatest impact on the category in 2019. Social media influencers set the direction for trends, and various make-up tutorials contributed further to shaping a new generation of consumers. Domestic influencers are usually ...