Eastern Europe

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…

In 2023, tea repeated its success from the previous year by yet again achieving a strong retail value growth rate and continuing on a path towards full recovery in retail volume terms following the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Significant…

Lithuania has a solid coffee-drinking culture, and its popularity far outweighs tea drinking. Traditionally, tea was normally consumed as an addition to the daily intake of hot drinks. However, its popularity waned across the review period as the…

Tea edged towards stagnation in retail volume terms in 2023, in contrast to its more dynamic performance earlier in the review period. In general, Latvia is a coffee consuming country, meaning that tea has more of a niche presence. In addition, there…

Black tea recorded the fastest value growth in 2023 due to the rising popularity of premium and speciality black teas. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for high-quality black teas sourced from specific regions, with unique flavours, such as the…

Other hot drinks recovered moderately in retail volume terms in 2023, having seen a continuous decline in the COVID-19 crisis and during the immediate post-pandemic period. The impact of the high rate of inflation was felt on the unit prices in the…

Other hot drinks registered positive retail volume growth in 2023, unlike tea and coffee. After a small decline in 2020, demand for other hot drinks has recovered, with positive volume growth recorded from 2021. Children returning to school has…

Other hot drinks retained a relatively niche presence in Lativa in 2023, with little interest on the part of consumers and retailers. Other plant-based hot drinks led retail volume and value sales, due to the popularity of barley-and chicory-based…

Other plant-based hot drinks showed the fastest volume and value growth in other drinks in 2023. As more Estonians adopt vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based diets due to environmental concerns or dairy allergy/intolerance, the demand for alternatives…

Hot drinks achieved minimal retail volume growth and strong retail value growth in 2023 amidst rising unit prices and the broader impact of inflation. The recovery of hot drinks sales through foodservice continued during the year and the channel…

In 2023, while retail value growth was positive in hot drinks, boosted by high price points, retail volume declined for the third consecutive year. Economic uncertainty continued to shape purchasing decisions, with consumers readjusting their budgets…

Retail volume sales of hot drinks in Latvia saw a static performance in 2023, as the high rate of inflation weighed heavily on consumer spending. With consumers forced to spend more on utilities and food, they shifted away from premium brands and…

Hot drinks in Estonia increased in both value and volume terms in 2023 due to the growing emphasis on healthy living, which has encouraged consumers to opt for beverages that not only satisfy their thirst but also contribute to their overall…

In 2023, coffee achieved very strong off-trade value growth. Whilst retail volume growth was moderate, significant unit price increases across all coffee categories, including the largest ones such as standard fresh ground coffee, led to a…

Retail volume sales of coffee in Lithuania declined in 2023 for the third consecutive year. While the landscape is saturated, economic uncertainty hindered volume sales, as rising price sensitivity and ongoing inflation reduced disposable incomes. In…

Retail volume sales of coffee saw a stagnant performance in 2023, as the high cost of living affected consumer purchasing behaviour. Forced to spend more on utilities and food, Latvians shifted away towards more affordable products. The market also…

Fresh coffee recorded the fastest volume and value growth in 2023 due to the rising demand for natural products. As coffee is the most popular hot drink in Estonia and thanks to the growing emphasis on healthy living, Estonians are willing to pay…

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, health awareness among consumers has heightened in Slovenia. This has driven growth in the tea landscape in Slovenia, with green tea, and herbal teas, being fast-developing area. Continuing this trend, in 2023,…

The escalation in prices coupled with a decline in disposable income has adversely affected the sales of tea in 2023 within Serbia. Additionally, as consumers gravitate towards a return to their pre-pandemic lifestyles, spending more time outside…

Other hot drinks witnessed steady volume growth in 2023, which mainly consists of chocolate-based flavoured powder drinks for children. However, in recent years, category players have been making efforts within chocolate-based flavoured powder drinks…