Middle East

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession since World War II. In Q4 2020, the end of the pandemic started as countries began administering effective vaccines among the population; however, vaccine distribution…

Opposition from the ultra-Orthodox community led to the tax on all sweetened beverages being removed at the end of March 2023. The ultra-Orthodox community includes many heavy users of sugary and artificially sweetened carbonates, along with…

Saudi Arabia’s hot climate ensures there remains a healthy demand for juice in the Kingdom. However, the performances of the different juice categories have been varied in 2023 with demand increasingly being shaped by the growing focus on healthy…

Juice in the Middle East and Africa Juice is evolving rapidly, with distribution metrics becoming a key differentiator within the competitive landscape. This report aims to evaluate the key local soft drinks markets in the fastest growing region in…

Following global inflation and the challenge for low- and mid-income consumers to manage their expenses, all major private label lines of juice entered the United Arab Emirates, including Carrefour Fresh, Lulu Fresh, Spinneys Food, Spinneys Kitchen…

This report considers what socialising will look like in a post-COVID-19 era, focusing on several key questions. A return to the “Roaring Twenties” in the beverages space or a continuing decimation of the on-trade? How has socialising changed (eg…

In 2023, the Israeli supermarket chain, Shufersal, launched its own line of RTD coffee. The private label coffee contains fresh milk, like Tnuva’s launch of Ice Coffee in a cup, and the retailer advertises that it uses 100% Arabica beans. Shufersal…

Sales of RTD coffee rose sharply from a low base over the review period with locals becoming increasingly aware of these products and sales have continued to see dynamic growth in 2023 in off- and on-trade volume terms. Starbucks Iced Coffee has…

Price per litre, RTD coffee is the most expensive category within soft drinks in the United Arab Emirates, followed by energy drinks. Its high price is driven by the premium nature of the product, a relatively small bottle size and the domination of…

The tax on all sweetened beverages was removed at the end of March 2023. With the government claiming that it was looking to lower the cost of living for locals, the Ministry of Health required retailers to lower prices within three days of the tax…