Eastern Europe

2023 saw sweet spreads register a static sales performance in retail volume terms and this stagnant growth trend was mainly the result of declining consumer demand for chocolate spreads, a category that has fallen foul of the mounting consumer…

Sweet spreads in Bulgaria saw an increase in both volume and value, driven by the gradual process of inflation stabilisation and further price hikes in the first quarter of the year. However, the category that continued to experience a decline was…

Chocolate spreads and jams and preserves are set to post negative results in retail volume terms for a third consecutive year in 2023. This is partly due to rising health-consciousness in Croatia, as these product types are typically high in sugar.…

Nut and seed based spreads demonstrated the fastest volume growth in 2023 thanks to the growing number of vegetarians who rely on nuts and seeds as a key source of protein and nutrition. In addition, the category is still in its early stages of…

In 2023, sweet spreads in Georgis is enjoying robust growth. The trend towards indulgent snacking plays a pivotal role in this upsurge. International brands, spearheaded by Ferrero’s iconic Nutella, followed by Krüger’s Nussa, have been at the…

Retail sales of sweet spreads continued to see positive growth in volume terms in 2023, with chocolate spreads leading the way. Here, Nutella (Ferrero) was by far the dominant player, with smaller contributions from a host of private label…

Inflation continues to have an impact on sweet spreads in 2023. While there is expected to be double-digit current value growth, constant value growth is expected to be minimal, with inflation cutting into profit margins. Volume growth is also…

Sweet spreads is expected to register moderate current value and volume growth in 2023, despite high inflation. While home-made jams and preserves are still popular in Lithuania, with the price of sugar and fruit increasing, it can be more economical…

In the first half of 2023, sweet spreads in Poland witnessed a surge in innovative flavour profiles, highlighting a trend towards experimental taste combinations. Bartnik Mazowiecki, notably, introduced Kokosowy Orzeszek, a unique blend of hazelnut…

The higher costs of raw ingredients, glass packaging, energy and logistics weighed significantly on the high increases in prices of products on retailers’ shelves. As a result, there is expected to be only a very marginal rise in overall retail…

Sweet spreads is facing a slowdown in retail volume sales in 2023, with Serbians returning to their pre-pandemic lifestyles and spending less time at home. Consumers are opting to eat fewer meals and snacks at home and are visiting foodservice…

Rising unit prices has led to value sales growth for sweet spreads, while volume sales remain under pressure as consumers focus their dwindling budgets on paying for essential foodstuffs and services. Sweet spreads sales have also been limited by a…

Rising health awareness among Slovenia consumers is directing the development of new products in sweet spreads. Towards the end of the review period Natureta, one of the most popular brands in jams, launched a new jam with low-sugar content. K-NORMA,…

Thanks to its natural and healthy product image, honey has benefitted from consumer concerns about wellbeing and immunity. Many local households purchase honey from local beekeepers, trusting the quality of local honey more than that which is sold in…

Retail volume sales of honey remained well below 2021 levels in 2023 despite positive growth over the course of the year and this is due to the dramatic declines previously seen in demand for honey as armed conflict gripped Ukraine during 2022. With…

In 2023, baked goods achieved moderate volume growth due to the strong performance of leavened bread, which is gaining popularity and shaping the development of the baked goods category. Despite rising prices, overall consumption of baked goods has…

The consumption of baked goods declined in 2023 as bread sales continue to follow the negative trend seen in the review period. Per capita growth in bread is limited due to Bulgaria’s declining population, which is falling well ahead of other…

Following steep price growth in baked goods in 2022, wheat and flour prices stabilised in 2023. This is particularly important for bread as it is heavily dependent on flour prices. Croatians are strong bread consumers, and it was expected that volume…

Retail sales of baked goods continued to decline in 2023 in the face of the still-elevated rate of inflation, which impacted the cost of living and caused consumers to rationalise their spending. This translated into a movement away from packaged…

Consumer demand for breakfast cereals remains stable in 2023, despite the challenges posed by population decline in the country, which is limiting the potential consumer base. The shift towards healthier eating is driving volume growth, as…