Middle East

Vending saw strong growth in current value terms in Saudi Arabia in 2023 with the category still seen to have further growth potential. New opportunities are arising from the increase in tourism and the development of new shopping and entertainment…

Consumers are becoming more health-conscious and are seeking healthier food options. Supermarkets in Saudi Arabia are looking to respond to this by offering a wider range of organic, natural, and locally sourced products. They are also providing more…

Small local grocers continue to face strong competition from modern grocery retailers and e-commerce. This is because modern grocery retailers such as supermarkets and hypermarkets look to provide a wide variety of products under one roof and use…

Retail in Saudi Arabia continued to experience positive growth in current value terms in 2023 with the end of the pandemic and improved consumer confidence helping to encourage spending. Although the Saudi economy actually contracted in 2023 due to a…

Retail e-commerce in Saudi Arabia has seen huge gains with sales having more than doubled since 2019 in current value terms. This is largely attributed to the digital adoption wave and evolving shopping preferences, especially among millennials. The…

The Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, acquired a 30% stake in Riyadh-based grocery store chain Tamimi Markets Company in 2023. The PIF is looking to help Tamimi Markets realise its full potential, with the aim of…

The overall growth of the retail market in Saudi Arabia has had a positive impact on home product specialists. As the retail market expands and evolves, there is an increasing demand for specialised professionals who can provide expert advice on home…

The rise of e-commerce and digital platforms has transformed the retail landscape in Saudi Arabia, including when it comes to beauty specialists. Beauty specialists in Saudi Arabia have adapted to the digital age by establishing an online presence,…

Value-oriented department stores such as Centerpoint and RedTag continued to lead the category in 2023 outperforming outlets with a more premium positioning. This was largely due to price increases with many shoppers displaying a more conservative…

Al Dukan from Dabbagh Group Holding Co Ltd remained the only player present in the discounters category in Saudi Arabia in 2023. The group focused on increasing its number of outlets in the western province of the Kingdom in 2023 with it opening a…

Increasing health awareness and consciousness of consumers in Saudi Arabia helped to maintain strong demand for home delivered bottled water in 2023, which is one of the leading products within direct selling. Most households in Saudi Arabia are…

Due in part to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy the Kingdom is experiencing accelerated population growth and internal migration toward concentrated metropolitan areas. This has presented opportunities for quality-focused convenience stores to…

Appliances and electronics specialists in Saudi Arabia experienced steady growth in current value terms in 2023. Factors that contributed to this positive growth included increasing purchasing power, population growth and urbanisation. Furthermore,…

Apparel and footwear is thriving in Saudi Arabia with strong demand stemming from changing fashion trends, consumer preferences, the return of religious pilgrims and tourists, the demand for quality products and government regulations. Moreover, the…

Vending was showing a stable performance in the post-pandemic landscape in 2023, with relatively few players across the level of brand share. These players have been operating in vending in Israel for many years, with steady client locations and…

Supermarkets in Israel saw greater value growth in 2023 compared to the previous year, which is partly attributed to shifts in the competitive landscape through the arrival of new players. For example, as discussed in discounters, we are seeing the…

Small local grocers remained dominated by unnamed “others” in Israel in 2023, with only two players noted by name – Nizat Haduvdevan Kanfei Nesharim Ltd and Anise Teva Ltd. However, Anise Teva health food stores has been involved in the controversy…

Retail in Israel in 2023 was affected by the political and economic panorama in the country, as the war continues. Inflation remained high and mortgages became much more expensive, with significant hikes in monthly repayments for homeowners. Added to…

Retail e-commerce in Israel continued to be supported by the constant evolution of retailers’ online platforms in 2023. Indeed, retailers and consumers alike were forced to embrace e-commerce during the era of the pandemic lockdowns and restrictions,…

Sales of home products in Israel in 2023 were being supported by the surge in demand for housing. Indeed, according to local news reports, the last quarter of 2023 saw home prices rise, which demonstrates a surge in demand for housing. In turn, this…

Health and beauty specialists is a retail channel seeing a stable performance in Israel in 2023, mostly controlled by large players who import international brands. Indeed, Super-Pharm (Super-Pharm (Israel) Ltd) holds just over half of all brand…

General merchandise stores struggled in Israel in 2023, due to decreased footfall in the areas where these stores are located. This is due to the ongoing geopolitical unrest in the country, with many consumers re-embracing e-commerce platforms as…

There was a notable rise of private label brands among discounters in Israel in 2023, with brands such as second-placed Rami Levy (Rami Levy Shivuk Hashikma Ltd) prominently featuring a diverse range of products under its private label. Indeed, such…

Direct selling in Israel in 2023 was reported to have somewhat benefitted from consumers spending more time at home due to the geopolitical situation in the country. As such, products which can be delivered to consumers’ homes are attracting…

Big grocery retailers continued to expand their reach by opening convenience stores in Israel in 2023, targeting urban customers in a highly competitive environment to enhance accessibility and cater to the evolving needs of city-dwellers. This move…

Appliances and electronics specialists in Israel continued on a pattern of normalisation in 2023, aligning with the global trends of correction after the surge in sales seen during the pandemic lockdowns, as consumers focused on creating the optimal…

Apparel and footwear specialists in Israel are those notably affected by macroeconomic factors in 2023, with a notable rise in import costs and concurrent increases in essential family expenditures such as housing, food, and gas. Additionally,…

Unattended payment solutions are helping to reshape vending in the United Arab Emirates by providing customers with a convenient and secure way to pay for goods or services. Companies such as ADCB Islamic Banking and Verifone offer unattended payment…

Numerous supermarket chains in the United Arab Emirates continued their expansion efforts in 2023, with notable contributions from LuLu Supermarket, Grandiose Supermarket, and Spar. LuLu Supermarket aims to strategically expand into smaller store…

While large supermarkets and hypermarkets continued to dominate grocery retailers in value terms in 2023, small local grocers in the United Arab Emirates experienced a resurgence towards the end of the review period. Operators of small local grocers…

In 2023, retail sales in the United Arab Emirates continued to grow at a reasonably positive level, although growth rates were marginally slower compared to the previous year. This slowdown was indicative of stability in retail’s performance after a…

The e-commerce landscape in the United Arab Emirates presents a competitive environment, yet it remains receptive to novel entrants equipped with innovative concepts or specialised propositions. Notably, the shift in consumer behaviour towards an…

Given the high dependence on imports, along with the impact of the pandemic and disruption to supply chains, most grocery retailers in the United Arab Emirates, especially hypermarkets, are looking to support local produce, including fruits and…

Rising disposable incomes in the United Arab Emirates are empowering consumers to opt for higher-quality, longer-lasting home products. Concerns surrounding inflation and economic uncertainty are encouraging consumers to choose more durable goods…

Beauty specialists in the United Arab Emirates, exemplified by the likes of Sephora, continued to place a strong emphasis on fostering a sense of community and rewards in 2023. Loyalty initiatives, such as the Sephora Beauty Pass, help unite a…

Variety stores in the United Arab Emirates continued to experience significant growth in 2023, outperforming department stores, the other main channel in general merchandise stores. This was not only due to the affordable prices offered by these…

Viva discounters have become popular in the United Arab Emirates due to their affordability, quality products, exclusive offerings, and convenient locations, catering for a wide range of consumers looking for budget-friendly shopping options. Viva's…

Market saturation in the United Arab Emirates, featuring prominent brands across diverse retail channels, poses a hurdle in persuading consumers to choose direct selling. To navigate this competitive landscape, direct selling players must distinguish…

Despite the considerable growth of hypermarkets and supermarkets, and the increasing use of online ordering for groceries, the active and social lifestyles of consumers in the United Arab Emirates continue to support sustainable demand for…

Consumers in the United Arab Emirates are increasingly seeking appliances and electronics with smart features and connectivity, driving growth of products such as smart TVs, AI-powered washing machines, and connected refrigerators. Local consumers…

In 2023, value sales of apparel and footwear specialists in the United Arab Emirates continued to recover from the significant impact of the pandemic, when the channel recorded a double-digit decline in 2020. A return to in-store shopping (despite…

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the potential market strategies for companies in Sub-Saharan Africa amidst the current cost of living crisis. It details how companies can leverage affordability, technology, and values to cater to the…

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…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

Rising costs of living pose challenges globally, but companies can find opportunities in several categories, essential and discretionary, especially in underpenetrated fast-growing markets. By considering category adjacencies and focusing on value,…

In the upcoming years, consumers and businesses face an array of challenges, with rising income inequality being among the key ones. Nevertheless, addressing the income inequality through catering to the Bottom of the Pyramid and the Middle Class…

Cities are hubs for spending, with 80% of expenditure expected to be generated by urban areas in 2023. Spending growth in 2023 will, however, be sluggish, as cost of living challenges force consumers to be more conservative in their expenditure. Over…

The economic crisis continues to impact the Lebanese retailing industry, with negative value growth in constant price terms seen across all categories in 2022. Consumers are spending much less than prior to the onset of the crisis, with demand…

Iraq’s retail industry has continued to expand and develop during the post-pandemic era, with buoyant global oil prices, rising levels of FDI and substantial improvements in retailing infrastructure amidst booming post-conflict redevelopment all…

Retail in 2022: The big picture