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Fresh Food in the United Arab Emirates
May 2022
Fresh food in 2021: The big picture
The emergence of the pandemic and the subsequent introduction of restrictions on movement to control the spread of the virus in the United Arab Emirates led to a notable shift in consumption patterns of fresh food in 2020, with foodservice recording significant declines due to venue closures. This benefited demand for fresh food through retail due to home consumption and cooking trends.
2021 key trends
In addition to a greater focus on health and wellness as a growth factor for fresh food such as fruits and vegetables in the United Arab Emirates, another key factor fuelling the growth of fresh food consumption is the growing concern of the government about the increasing rate of obesity and diabetes among children. The United Arab Emirates has been ranked among the top 20 countries globally in child obesity, an issue that the government was alerted to in 2017, prompting it to start taking serious action to control and mitigate the healthcare risks and subsequent economic implications.
Retailing developments
The pandemic elevated hygiene concerns in the United Arab Emirates, with local consumers increasingly opting to shop in modern grocery retailers over traditional open markets or wet markets; the former is perceived as cleaner and safer. Furthermore, packaged options were more in demand, due to perceptions that packaged fresh food meant that there was less risk of cross-contamination from other consumers and from people in the supply chain.
What next for fresh food?
Total volume sales of fresh food are predicted to quickly recover to pre-pandemic levels by 2023, with demand across all three channels gradually stabilising over the forecast period. There is likely to be a strong focus on health and hygiene in consumer purchases of fresh food over the forecast period, in addition to a further boost in demand for packaged products.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Fresh Food industry in United Arab Emirates with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
Eggs
Fish and Seafood
Fruits
Meat
Nuts
Pulses
Starchy Roots
Sugar and Sweeteners
Vegetables
If you're in the Fresh Food industry in United Arab Emirates, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Fresh Food in United Arab Emirates report includes:
Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
Detailed segmentation of international and local products
Historic volume and value sizes
Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
What is the market size of Fresh Food in United Arab Emirates?
What is the impact of commodity price fluctuations on local production and consumption?
What are the key campaigns or legislation driving Fresh Food sales?
How are consumer attitudes towards fresh food evolving?
How significant is health and wellness in shaping consumer demand?
Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Fresh Food in the United Arab Emirates
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Fresh food in 2021: The big picture
2021 key trends
Retailing developments
What next for fresh food?
MARKET DATA
Table 1 Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Total Volume 2016-2021Table 2 Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 3 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Volume 2016-2021Table 4 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 5 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Value 2016-2021Table 6 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Value Growth 2016-2021Table 7 Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2016-2021Table 8 Retail Distribution of Fresh Food by Format: % Volume 2016-2021Table 9 Forecast Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Total Volume 2021-2026Table 10 Forecast Total Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 11 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Volume 2021-2026Table 12 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 13 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: Value 2021-2026Table 14 Forecast Retail Sales of Fresh Food by Category: % Value Growth 2021-2026
DISCLAIMER
SOURCES
Summary 1 Research Sources
Eggs in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2021 DEVELOPMENTS
Despite marginal switch back to out-of-home consumption in 2021, demand for eggs through retail remains high
Hygiene concerns continue to favour modern grocery retailers
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Solid demand for eggs over the forecast period, offering affordable source of protein
Local farms to market the freshness of their offer and expanding range
Summary 2 Major Processors of Eggs 2021
CATEGORY DATA
Table 15 Total Sales of Eggs: Total Volume 2016-2021Table 16 Total Sales of Eggs: % Total Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 17 Retail Sales of Eggs: Volume 2016-2021Table 18 Retail Sales of Eggs: % Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 19 Retail Sales of Eggs: Value 2016-2021Table 20 Retail Sales of Eggs: % Value Growth 2016-2021Table 21 Retail Sales of Eggs by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2016-2021Table 22 Forecast Total Sales of Eggs: Total Volume 2021-2026Table 23 Forecast Total Sales of Eggs: % Total Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 24 Forecast Retail Sales of Eggs: Volume 2021-2026Table 25 Forecast Retail Sales of Eggs: % Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 26 Forecast Retail Sales of Eggs: Value 2021-2026Table 27 Forecast Retail Sales of Eggs: % Value Growth 2021-2026
Fish and Seafood in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2021 DEVELOPMENTS
Total volume sales of fish and seafood struggle to fully recover due to dominance of foodservice and its weak performance in 2020
Packaged and frozen options address hygiene concerns and demand for convenience
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Full recovery for total volume sales, although foodservice will lag
Increasingly busy consumers to value convenient frozen options
Summary 3 Major Processors of Fish and Seafood 2021
CATEGORY DATA
Table 28 Total Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Total Volume 2016-2021Table 29 Total Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 30 Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Volume 2016-2021Table 31 Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 32 Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Value 2016-2021Table 33 Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Value Growth 2016-2021Table 34 Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2016-2021Table 35 Forecast Total Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Total Volume 2021-2026Table 36 Forecast Total Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 37 Forecast Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Volume 2021-2026Table 38 Forecast Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 39 Forecast Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: Value 2021-2026Table 40 Forecast Retail Sales of Fish and Seafood by Category: % Value Growth 2021-2026
Fruits in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2021 DEVELOPMENTS
Total volume sales of fruits recover in 2021, with packaged options continuing to gain ground
Carrefour BIO opens in Dubai
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Health trends to continue driving demand for fruits
Unifrutti to benefit from further investment
Summary 4 Major Processors of Fruits 2021
CATEGORY DATA
Table 41 Total Sales of Fruits by Category: Total Volume 2016-2021Table 42 Total Sales of Fruits by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 43 Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: Volume 2016-2021Table 44 Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: % Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 45 Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: Value 2016-2021Table 46 Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: % Value Growth 2016-2021Table 47 Retail Sales of Fruits by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2016-2021Table 48 Forecast Total Sales of Fruits by Category: Total Volume 2021-2026Table 49 Forecast Total Sales of Fruits by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 50 Forecast Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: Volume 2021-2026Table 51 Forecast Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: % Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 52 Forecast Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: Value 2021-2026Table 53 Forecast Retail Sales of Fruits by Category: % Value Growth 2021-2026
Meat in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2021 DEVELOPMENTS
Recovery of total volume sales for meat in 2021 due to greater mobility
E-commerce retains share but modern grocery retailers remains dominant distribution channel for meat in the United Arab Emirates
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Further growth momentum for meat across the channels
Continual development of poultry production, the most relevant meat type in the United Arab Emirates
Summary 5 Major Processors of Meat 2021
CATEGORY DATA
Table 54 Total Sales of Meat by Category: Total Volume 2016-2021Table 55 Total Sales of Meat by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 56 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Volume 2016-2021Table 57 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 58 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Value 2016-2021Table 59 Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Value Growth 2016-2021Table 60 Retail Sales of Meat by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2016-2021Table 61 Forecast Sales of Meat by Category: Total Volume 2021-2026Table 62 Forecast Sales of Meat by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 63 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Volume 2021-2026Table 64 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 65 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: Value 2021-2026Table 66 Forecast Retail Sales of Meat by Category: % Value Growth 2021-2026
Nuts in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2021 DEVELOPMENTS
Total volume sales of nuts struggle to fully recover due to severity of declines through foodservice in 2020
Health awareness and packaged variants drive trends in nuts
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Strong growth for nuts across the different channels
Modern grocery retailers convenient option for both packaged and unpackaged nuts
Summary 6 Major Processors of Nuts 2021
CATEGORY DATA
Table 67 Total Sales of Nuts by Category: Total Volume 2016-2021Table 68 Total Sales of Nuts by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 69 Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: Volume 2016-2021Table 70 Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: % Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 71 Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: Value 2016-2021Table 72 Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: % Value Growth 2016-2021Table 73 Retail Sales of Nuts by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2016-2021Table 74 Forecast Total Sales of Nuts by Category: Total Volume 2021-2026Table 75 Forecast Total Sales of Nuts by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 76 Forecast Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: Volume 2021-2026Table 77 Forecast Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: % Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 78 Forecast Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: Value 2021-2026Table 79 Forecast Retail Sales of Nuts by Category: % Value Growth 2021-2026
Pulses in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2021 DEVELOPMENTS
Retail continues to drive sales of pulses in the United Arab Emirates
Health awareness drives up demand for alternative sources of protein
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Nutritional concerns and sustainability to drive further demand for pulses
Pulses to continue to benefit from affordability factor
Summary 7 Major Processors of Pulses 2021
CATEGORY DATA
Table 80 Total Sales of Pulses by Category: Total Volume 2016-2021Table 81 Total Sales of Pulses by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 82 Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: Volume 2016-2021Table 83 Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: % Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 84 Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: Value 2016-2021Table 85 Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: % Value Growth 2016-2021Table 86 Retail Sales of Pulses by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2016-2021Table 87 Forecast Total Sales of Pulses by Category: Total Volume 2021-2026Table 88 Forecast Total Sales of Pulses by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 89 Forecast Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: Volume 2021-2026Table 90 Forecast Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: % Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 91 Forecast Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: Value 2021-2026Table 92 Forecast Retail Sales of Pulses by Category: % Value Growth 2021-2026
Starchy Roots in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2021 DEVELOPMENTS
Starchy roots continues to be driven by demand for potatoes
Local potato producer commits to National Strategy for Food Security
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Full recovery for starchy roots expected, with demand supported by return of expatriates
Other roots and sweet potatoes set for more dynamic growth in line with rising health trends
Summary 8 Major Processors of Starchy Roots 2021
CATEGORY DATA
Table 93 Total Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Total Volume 2016-2021Table 94 Total Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 95 Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Volume 2016-2021Table 96 Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 97 Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Value 2016-2021Table 98 Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Value Growth 2016-2021Table 99 Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2016-2021Table 100 Forecast Total Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Total Volume 2021-2026Table 101 Forecast Total Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 102 Forecast Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Volume 2021-2026Table 103 Forecast Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 104 Forecast Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: Value 2021-2026Table 105 Forecast Retail Sales of Starchy Roots by Category: % Value Growth 2021-2026
Sugar and Sweeteners in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2021 DEVELOPMENTS
Following home baking and comfort eating of previous year, demand for sugar and sweeteners declines through retail in 2021
Modern grocery retailers remains most popular distribution channel
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Full recovery for foodservice depends on return of international travel
Despite rising health concerns and government awareness campaigns, retail sales of sugar and sweeteners are set to rise
Summary 9 Major Processors of Sugar and Sweeteners 2021
CATEGORY DATA
Table 106 Total Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Total Volume 2016-2021Table 107 Total Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Total Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 108 Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Volume 2016-2021Table 109 Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 110 Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Value 2016-2021Table 111 Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Value Growth 2016-2021Table 112 Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2016-2021Table 113 Forecast Total Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Total Volume 2021-2026Table 114 Forecast Total Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Total Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 115 Forecast Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Volume 2021-2026Table 116 Forecast Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 117 Forecast Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: Value 2021-2026Table 118 Forecast Retail Sales of Sugar and Sweeteners: % Value Growth 2021-2026
Vegetables in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2021 DEVELOPMENTS
Retail remains a strong driver of vegetables in 2021
Growing health consciousness and greater demand for packaged vegetables through modern channels
PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
United Arab Emirates looks to be more self-sufficient in supplying vegetables with new initiative
Hoot market to support further penetration of e-commerce
Summary 10 Major Processors of Vegetables 2021
CATEGORY DATA
Table 119 Total Sales of Vegetables by Category: Total Volume 2016-2021Table 120 Total Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 121 Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: Volume 2016-2021Table 122 Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Volume Growth 2016-2021Table 123 Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: Value 2016-2021Table 124 Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Value Growth 2016-2021Table 125 Retail Sales of Vegetables by Packaged vs Unpackaged: % Volume 2016-2021Table 126 Forecast Total Sales of Vegetables by Category: Total Volume 2021-2026Table 127 Forecast Total Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 128 Forecast Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: Volume 2021-2026Table 129 Forecast Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Volume Growth 2021-2026Table 130 Forecast Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: Value 2021-2026Table 131 Forecast Retail Sales of Vegetables by Category: % Value Growth 2021-2026
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Fresh Food refers only to fresh uncooked and unprocessed foods (packaged and unpackaged). Packaged sugar products and natural sweeteners (e.g. brown sugar, table sugar, molasses) are also included. For Fresh Food, we research total sales across distribution channels including retail, foodservice and institutions. For a selected 18 markets, we have a breakdown of total fresh food sales according to the following formats:
• Retail
• Foodservice sales
• Institutional sales
Retail
Retail sales is defined as sales through all legal establishments primarily engaged in the sale of fresh, packaged and prepared foods for home preparation and consumption. Retail sales excludes sales to hotels, restaurants, cafés, duty free sales and institutional sales (canteens, prisons/jails, hospitals, army, etc). Our retail definition excludes the purchase of food products from foodservice outlets for consumption off-premises, eg grilled chicken/meat/fish bought from counters of cafés/bars. This falls under foodservice sales. For foodservice, we capture all sales to foodservice outlets, regardless of whether the products are eventually consumed on-premise or off-premise.
We estimate sales through the following channels:
Modern Grocery Retailers
• Supermarkets
• Hypermarkets
• Discounters
• Convenience stores
• Forecourt retailers
Traditional Grocery Retailers
• Independent small grocers
• Food/Drink/Tobacco Specialists
• Other grocery retailers (morning/speciality/open/wet/farmers’ markets, stalls and kiosks, etc)
Non-grocery retailers
• Health and beauty specialist retailers
• Other non-grocery retailers
Non-store retailers
• Homeshopping
• Internet retailing
• Vending
• Direct selling
Foodservice
Foodservice sales are defined as sales TO consumer foodservice outlets that serve the general public in a non-captive environment. In other words, this means that the foodservice volumes track sales of all fresh food going into restaurant kitchens, regardless of what the restaurant actually does with that food.
Foodservice outlets include cafés/bars, FSR (full-service restaurants), fast food, 100% home delivery/takeaway, self-service cafeterias and street stalls/kiosks. Sales to semi-captive foodservice outlets are also included. This describes outlets located in leisure, travel and retail environments.
• Retail refers to foodservice units located in retail outlets such as department stores, shopping malls, shopping centres, super/hypermarkets etc.
• Leisure refers to foodservice units located in leisure establishments such as museums, health clubs, cinemas, theatres, theme parks and sports stadiums.
• Travel refers to foodservice units based in airports, rail stations, coach stations, motorway service stations offering gas facilities etc.
Institutional sales
Institutional sales is defined as sales to captive foodservice units that serve captive populations such as in hospitals, schools, prisons, military camps, hotels, hostels, nursing homes, homes for elderly people, religious houses, etc.