Middle East

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…

Healthy growth rates were recorded in both volume and value terms in the Middle East and Africa snacks market in 2023. This followed stagnating volume sales and a decline in real value terms in 2022, when consumers in many countries were seeing their…

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…

Snacks remain popular in Kuwait seeing healthy growth in 2022 and 2023. Sales are being supported by the expansion of modern grocery retailers and the rise of e-commerce which is improving access to a range of snacks. Despite this, the country’s high…

Sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruits snacks is one of the best-performing categories within local snacks in 2023. Stronger demand is being driven by the reopening of schools and local consumers resuming their normal lives now that restrictions in…

Demand for sugar confectionery was negatively impacted in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, which led to lockdowns and schools being closed. Limited mobility and on-the-go impulse purchases, especially amongst children, were major factors in the…

Saudi Arabia continues to move towards its Vision 2030 goal of diversifying the local economy, which is having a significant impact on the country’s openness to trade. New developments are being constantly undertaken, while new investments…

After being negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, sales of snacks finally began to improve in 2022. The removal of pandemic-related restrictions and the return of tourism in 2023 continued to support rising demand. While the…

The revaluation of the Iraqi dinar in 2023 eased pressure on prices to some degree, providing relief to brand owners in the snacks industry. Nonetheless, importers of major global brands are still struggling as their products remain very expensive…

Demand for savoury snacks, for both at-home and out-of-home consumption, continues to gain momentum in 2023, resulting in a full recovery in total volume sales terms to pre-pandemic levels. Foodservice remains a particularly dynamic performer for…

Sales of ice cream in Saudi Arabia were negatively impacted in 2020 by the emergence of the pandemic, which led to lockdowns, school closures (with children in general one of the main drivers of snacks in the local market) and limited mobility, with…

Gum sales were negatively impacted by the pandemic in 2020 due to lockdowns in Saudi Arabia and limited mobility outside of the home. In addition, local consumers were more focused on purchasing essential commodities such as medicine and groceries,…

Retail volume sales of chocolate confectionery are recording stronger growth in 2023 compared to the previous year, due to the growing population, the rise in impulse purchases outside of the home, and the focus of players on expanding the presence…

Sales continue to rise in all snacks categories as population growth and high income levels support rising demand. Consumers are looking to healthier options at a time of spreading knowledge about the dangers of highly processed foods and their role…

The health and wellness trend continued to exert a strong influence on the category in 2022, with protein/energy bars posting the fastest growth in volume terms. Local consumers are increasingly interested in increasing their protein intake, which is…

Sugar confectionery saw a return to positive volume growth in 2023, following a decline in the previous year. The latter was primarily due to was due falling sales of Strauss Group’s Must and Elite brands, following a salmonella scare in one its…

Retail sales of snacks in Israel saw modest growth in volume terms in 2023, following the stagnating performance of the previous year. As a result of the war in Ukraine, and the resultant energy crisis, the price of raw materials increased…

Volume sales of savoury snacks saw minimal growth in volume terms in 2023, as the major players, including Osem Food Industries, increased their prices. In the face of these price hikes, and with fewer discounts available, local consumers looked for…

The ice cream market in Israel continued its positive momentum in 2023, despite the fact that the leading players increased their prices at the end of the previous year. The indulgence trend continued to have a very strong impact on the market,…

Gum saw an improved performance in volume terms in 2023, following a sharp decline in the previous year. The latter was due falling sales of Strauss Group’s Must, Bazooka and Elite brands, following a salmonella scare in one its factories in April…