Kenya

The competitive landscape is changing as SMEs are increasing pressure on large well-established businesses compelling them to change their game plan and traditional business models. The question is what are these technological developments, how are ...

The 2015 Excise Duty Bill, which increased retail prices, came into effect on 1 December 2015, and thus affected consumer behaviour in 2017. The Bill introduced uniform specific excise for cigarettes at the rate of KES2,500 per every 1,000 cigarettes...

In Kenya, cigar sellers promote their most-premium variants while teaching new smokers how to develop a palate for rich flavour and how to puff to avoid quick tar build-up. They do this through their various social media pages, as smoking is ...

Despite increased regulations, stock-outs and a sustained anti-smoking campaign by civil groups, tobacco in Kenya continued to record strong current value growth in 2017. Growth was due to higher product prices, as well as an aspirational middle ...

Packaged retail sales of smokeless tobacco remained insignificant in 2017, although there was marginal consumption among the older generation...

Vitamins and dietary supplements is an emerging market in Middle East and Africa, which is driven by growing health awareness, increasing self-medication, expansion of distribution networks, and the entrance of new brands. This region offers several ...

Parents mostly opt for the convenience of using wet wipes on their babies, either as part of a regular nappy changing routine or when out and about. As these products come into contact with a baby’s delicate skin, more brands are now carrying out ...

Bath and shower products are increasingly being marketed as antibacterial and therapeutic. This has seen mass-market brands emphasise their luxuriant qualities such as the adding of spa-treatment and aromatherapy ingredients to their products. Bath ...

Consumers are showing a preference for colour cosmetics products that are long lasting and do not stain or which are waterproof in the case of makeup. Colour cosmetics mainly appeal to working professionals and young, well connected Millennials in ...

There is low consumer awareness with regard to deodorants, but this is changing. Notably, brands such as Nivea are using this opportunity to market their products as having modern skin care technology. Generally, the aim is that through in-store ...

Depilatories is considered to be a luxury in Kenya, with these products mainly targeting high-income consumers. However, this situation is changing due to a rise in the country’s highly aspirational mid-income segment who have higher disposable ...

Perfume stores are increasingly using their social media pages to inform customers of their instore promotions. Notably, they are targeting young and well-connected Millennials who spend the majority of their time on social media and who are more ...

Despite the fact that big brands such as Dark & Lovely have ranges formulated for ethnic hair, mainstream companies are still associated with relaxers and other unnatural products. As a result, some customers still pledge their support to small, ...

The expansion of an aspirational middle class is generating significant demand for premium products. However, many younger consumers do not have the budget to support their beauty and personal care aspirations. Consequently, there has been a ...

An increased focus on personal grooming, heightened marketing campaigns, growth in the urban population and rising incomes among Kenya’s mid-income segment all impacted positively on value growth for men’s grooming during 2017. This was further ...

Kenya’s middle class is becoming increasingly aware about the importance of good oral health, with this being supported by regular marketing campaigns from the leading brands such as Colgate and Aquafresh. Furthermore, the expansion of the modern ...

The review period was marked by a stable, well connected middle class with increasing disposable income that ventured into trying out new products that were cost effective and which delivered value. Urbanisation and massive population growth has also...

Colour cosmetics and skin care were the two most dynamic areas of premium beauty and personal care in 2017. Both categories are benefiting from strong demand amongst young urban professionals, who are experiencing rising disposable income and an ...

Companies continue to actively promote, market and educate consumers about their skin care products and the benefits they can provide, which is helping to drive category growth. With rising urbanisation and a growing middle class more consumers in ...

The active ingredients in sunscreen come in two forms, mineral and chemical filters which use different mechanisms for protecting skin and maintaining stability in sunlight. However, most common sunscreens in the market contain chemical filters. ...