Kenya

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the consumer goods market in Sub-Saharan Africa, with recovery expected to take place over time. Consumers expenditure has been negatively affected, as value seeking consumers shift to essential products. The…

The global urban consumer landscape is increasingly complex and difficult to navigate. Which cities should you choose for your consumer business expansion? To answer this and other questions, we are introducing the Euromonitor International Cities…

Economies in the Middle East and Africa experienced a downturn in 2020 after continuous expansion since 2015. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with slumping oil prices, has disturbed countries’ economic development and distorted public finances.…

Population expansion Kenya in 2021-2040 will be driven exclusively by positive rates of natural change. While ageing will quicken over this timeframe, Kenya will remain an overwhelmingly young country and its expanding workforce has the potential to…

Direct selling retail current value sales exhibited a steep decline during 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions on movement, most notably a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the major cities, made it difficult for salespeople to move around,…

Brick and mortar grocery stores remain extremely popular in Kenya, despite ongoing strong growth in e-commerce. The number of grocery stores outlets continued to increase in Kenya in 2022 as operators looked to expand as the country continued its…

Faced with rising costs, some major non-grocery retailers were forced to close their doors towards the end of the review period. Following a general pattern of South African retailers exiting Kenya, Massmart Holdings Ltd announced in early 2023 its…

Sendy launched a payment on delivery product for e-commerce and social commerce vendors in Africa, with this including Kenya. This is seen as a significant new product as it overcomes security concerns some consumers still have about shopping online,…

Retail in Kenya continued to expand in 2022, with new stores opening while there was increased footfall at brick and mortar stores. However, not all modern retailers are finding success in Kenya, with some players being forced to exit the market.…

In the Economic Freedom Ranking, Kenya falls in the bottom third globally, with its weakest performance in Trade Freedom and Fiscal Health. The low accessibility of higher education limits the availability of skilled labour, hindering the business…

In 2022, the Kenyan alcoholic beverages sector witnessed both volume and value sales expansion, riding on the coattails of a burgeoning youth demographic and a recovery phase following the stringent COVID-19 regulations that gave a much-needed boost…

Influences on local consumer purchasing decisions and behaviour when it comes to beer have evolved over time in Kenya. While pricing used to be a key driver, there is now a discernible shift towards a more nuanced, sophisticated buying behaviour that…

Cider/perry in Kenya saw further expansion in 2022, with new entrants such as Kenya Originals, for example, bringing fresh products to the table. In 2022, Kenya Originals launched its KO cider, featuring distinctive flavour profiles including KO lime…

In 2022, RTDs in Kenya recorded substantial growth, driven largely by the popularity of flavoured products. With the youth population in Kenya expanding, manufacturers have seized the opportunity to tailor their product offerings to this demographic.…

Spirits overall in Kenya has been experiencing a significant upswing in terms of total volume sales, due to the growing popularity of international brands. Increased importation of a diverse range of international spirits has been instrumental in…

Wine in Kenya saw continued strong and steady total volume sales growth in 2022, especially among the local middle-class consumer base. This expansion is predominantly fuelled by increased consumer awareness, which in turn is a result of concerted…

There is a high level of illegal trade/counterfeit tobacco products in Kenya, especially cigarettes. These products manage to enter the country through porous borders and continuously pose a challenge to local manufacturers while damaging the overall…

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of cigars and cigarillos plummeted. This was mainly due to the closures of establishments, as consumers of these products are usually social smokers that enjoy smoking these products in social settings. In…

In 2022, the tobacco landscape in Kenya was shaped by ongoing inflation, rising price points and increasing health awareness. As such, premium cigarette brands continued to note a decline in sales, attributed to limited consumer budgets in the face…

The Nairobi in Kenya report provides comprehensive city level information benchmarked against other cities in the country and region. The report includes historic data and forecasts on city population, consumer expenditure, digital penetration,…

Chocolate confectionery is set to see low retail volume growth in 2023, although current value growth is expected to be far higher, amidst inflation. Modern grocery distribution channels are important for sales of chocolate confectionery in Kenya,…

Gum is set to maintain slow retail volume growth and more dynamic current value growth in 2023, with fairly similar rises expected for both bubble gum and chewing gum. The former is mainly consumed by children, and the latter by adults. Despite the…

Ice cream is set to see a second year of retail volume growth in 2023, although sales are still not expected to return to the pre-pandemic level, as ice cream is increasingly regarded as an occasional indulgence by local middle-class consumers.…

Savoury snacks recorded robust retail volume and current value growth throughout the review period, and this is set to continue in 2023, driven by the strong performance of potato chips. This is being driven by the youth population, especially…

Snacks is set to maintain retail volume growth in 2023, although this is expected to remain low. Amidst mounting inflationary pressure, an acceleration in unit price growth has been limiting volume growth, as sales are largely impulse-driven, but is…

Sugar confectionery is set to decline in retail volume terms in 2023, although it will continue to see current value growth due to price rises. The prices of raw materials have been rising. For instance, reduced local production of sugar cane,…

Sweet biscuits is the only category within sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks with notable sales. Plain biscuits are the most popular, followed by cookies, filled biscuits, chocolate coated biscuits, and wafers. Despite rising prices, retail…

Kenya Airways (KQ) has extended its partnership with Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) for an additional two years, reaffirming its role as the Official Airline Partner of the Magical Kenya Open. This collaboration aims to boost tourism in the country,…

The war in Ukraine has had a detrimental impact on the travel industry in Kenya, including the booking sector. The conflict has resulted in an overall increase in travel costs, making it more expensive for individuals to explore various destinations…

Hoteliers are optimistic about 2023 as they anticipate a notable surge in demand for hotel accommodations. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a shift in travellers’ preferences, leading them to reconsider their travel choices and explore new…

In 2023, Kenya's tourism industry is poised to experience a resurgence with the reopening of China to international travel. This presents a promising opportunity for growth, as Chinese visitors have the potential to significantly contribute to the…

In 2023, Kenya's travel landscape is undergoing transformative trends that hold significant promise for its tourism industry. The relaxation of China's travel ban marks a crucial turning point, instilling renewed optimism in Kenya's tourism sector.…

In spite of high inflation, both dried baby food and milk formula is expected to register an increase in current value and volume sales. A rising birth rate supports the increase. Value sales for prepared baby food still remains negligible, as it is…

Butter and spreads is expected to register double-digit current value growth, though volumes sales are expected to fall. While the economic outlook is improving, inflation still remains high and this is expected to dampen volume sales. In addition,…

In 2023, cheese is expected to register double-digit current value growth, though volume growth is expected to be minimal, as inflation persists. In addition, there is shortages of local raw milk due to drought conditions, and local producers are…

In 2023, dairy products and alternatives is expected to moderate current value growth, though volume growth is expected to be minimal. Like many countries across the world, Kenya has experienced high inflation caused by commodity price volatility and…

Drinking milk is expected to register double-digit current value growth, but minimal volume growth. Price rises have been significant, largely due to low milk production caused by drought conditions. In addition, a near ban on imports from Uganda has…

Value sales continue to be very low for other dairy in Kenya. That being said, it is expected that other dairy will register healthy volume growth in 2022, largely driven by increasing sales of cream, which continues to be the only product within…

There is expected to be moderate current value and volume growth for yoghurt in 2023. Local production ensures affordable prices and stable supply. That being said, smaller offerings of 100ml are more popular in 2023, as it is less of a financial…

Nairobi and Mombasa are emerging as vibrant economic hubs in South Africa, with Nairobi experiencing the fastest population increase between 2022 and 2027. Nairobi and Mombasa are also set to lead in digital connectivity among cities, while Eldoret…

Significant income inequality and elevated inflation pose challenges to Kenya’s consumer market in the medium term. Discretionary spending is predicted to remain limited, due to the extensive size of social class E. Due to the country’s strong…

The number of households in Kenya is set to continue increasing between 2022 and 2027, with other (extended) households continuing to be the leading household type. In 2022, household spending faced challenges due to a 7.7% inflation rate, leading to…

The commodities country overview provides comprehensive data on production, consumption and price trends on key commodities markets. The commodities overview in Kenya covers production and consumption trends in agricultural commodities, energy…

Although economic freedom is limited and endemic corruption persists, international assistance is helping government finances in Kenya. Whilst economic growth is slowing, adversely impacted by high inflation, infrastructure upgrades will be…

In 2023, packaged food in Kenya faces the challenge of high inflation, leading to a significant increase in unit prices. As a result, consumers are prioritising essential grocery items while cutting back on impulse or non-essential purchases. For…

In 2023, edible oil prices have remained persistently high, continuing the trend from the significant increase experienced in 2022. Unfortunately, there is little respite in sight, primarily due to the Kenyan government's imposition of a 25% import…

There has been a growing demand for soups among consumers in Kenya. The landscape has quickly become one of the few industries that have witnessed a surge in demand after the outbreak of COVID-19. However, there is an overall perception in the…

Stock cubes have cemented their status as essential staple ingredients in households, regardless of income levels. Surprisingly, this demand remains on the rise even in the face of strong price increases. One noteworthy brand in this segment is…

Local brands such as Peptang and Zesta continue to maintain their dominant presence in sweet spreads. Their success can be attributed to their extensive distribution networks and competitive pricing when compared to imported products. These homegrown…

Baked goods in Kenya has experienced substantial unit price increases, particularly in bread, marked by strong double-digit growth. This escalation is primarily attributed to the heightened global wheat prices, a consequence of the ongoing…