Eastern Europe

Off-trade wine, which accounts for the majority of sales in Croatia, recorded slight decline in 2022 in volume terms following a strong year in 2021 when sales recovered after the pandemic. Increased demand for more affordable brands was evident in…

Growth in total volume sales of spirits in 2022 was well down from 2021, with demand slowing sharply at the off- and on-trade levels. Because these products are comparatively expensive, the category was particularly exposed to more cautious attitudes…

Spirits recorded another year of growth in 2022 thanks to rising demand for quality spirits in the country. The low unit price increase of spirits also attracted increasingly price-sensitive consumers with reduced disposable incomes as a result of…

RTDs experienced a particularly steep slowdown in total volume sales growth in 2022. The category was more exposed than most as rapidly rising inflation led Hungarians to exercise greater caution in their spending decisions, as these products are…

With the lifting of most of the pandemic-related restrictions, the home consumption of RTDs started to suffer in 2022. Meanwhile, the strong recovery of on-trade sales can be attributed to an exceptionally successful tourist season and the return of…

Like the other main areas of Hungary’s alcoholic drinks market, cider/perry saw growth in total volume sales slow sharply in 2022 as the rapidly rising cost of living prompted consumers to rein in discretionary spending. It continued to perform…

Cider/perry is comparatively new in Croatia, first developing visible share in 2010. The relative immaturity has driven strong growth from a low base over the review period. Off-trade consumption of cider/perry continued to grow in 2022, benefiting…

While total volume sales of beer in Hungary continued to increase in 2022, growth was slower than in 2021 and by the end of the year they had still not reached pre-pandemic levels. Overall demand was constrained by rising prices and falling…

Beer sales have been revived with the recovery of tourism in Croatia. Following two years of pandemic-related restrictions, there were no border restrictions or on-trade measures imposed in 2022. However, while on-trade sales, which are largely…

While alcoholic drinks in Hungary recorded substantially improved growth in total current value sales in 2022, this was primarily due to soaring inflation fuelled by the global recovery from COVID-19, the fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and…

2022 was a tough year for alcoholic drinks in Croatia as high inflation impacted discretionary spending in the year. Fortunately, this was offset by strong growth in the on-trade channel as tourism was almost at its pre-pandemic level. Rising prices…

Wine prices remained more resilient compared to other alcoholic drinks categories in 2022. This was thanks to a strong supply from previous years and fierce price competition from imported wine. This helped wine to stay competitive. Additionally,…

On-trade wine sales enjoyed a strong recovery in 2022, pushing overall wine volumes sales well above pre-pandemic levels. A significant recovery was seen in the Horeca channel as all COVID-19 restrictions were removed for the full year. There is a…

The grape harvest of 2022 proved to be mostly disappointing for vineyards, with extreme droughts negatively impacting overall yields. However, the warmer weather, comparable to Southern European regions, allowed wine makers to produce more speciality…

Wine saw healthy growth in total volume terms in 2022 with sales boosted by a further recovery in sales through the on-trade. With COVID-19 fears subsiding and restrictions lifted consumers started to return to their old pre-pandemic lifestyles which…

Wine in Romania witnessed a volume sales decrease in both off-trade and on-trade sectors in 2022, largely due to the reduction in purchasing power triggered by soaring inflation and the cost of living. The majority of the population found their…

Polish consumers saw a notable increase in the prices of products and services that satisfy basic needs in 2022 including food, utilities, and loan costs. This price inflation prompted a more cautious and analytical approach to discretionary…

Total volume growth was robust in 2022 thanks to the enduring popularity of wine among local consumers in North Macedonia, which is well known for its wine drinking and production. The impact of inflation on consumption and prices was moderate. Unit…

Wine in Bulgaria continued to increase in volume terms in 2022, mainly due to on-trade growth. However, wine consumption through consumer foodservice remained below 2019 levels because of inflation and huge price increases. As a result, most local…

Consumption of wine remains robust in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with strong total volume growth in 2022. Red wine remains a firm favourite among locals as red wines are considered the best accompaniment to traditional meals in Bosnia and Herzegovina.…