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…

Preparing and eating more meals at home meant that cooking ingredients and meals saw a spike in demand when the pandemic hit Middle East and Africa in 2020. However, in recent years, including 2023, volume sales have been struggling in the face of…

Population growth and lower inflation supported rising demand across meals and soups in 2023. In the key category of edible oils, the availability of sunflower oil via the PDS put pressure on demand, while table sauces benefited from the broadening…

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…

In 2023, price increases across the sweet spreads will have a dampening effect on retail volume sales. Moreover, as the health and wellness trend in Israel continues apace, many local consumers are less inclined to indulge in sweet spreads, which are…

Price increases resulting from supply chain issues and the rising costs of raw materials and production are discouraging many Israeli consumers from buying sauces, dips and condiments in 2023. For example, at the end of 2022, Strauss increased the…

Ready meals continues to benefit from the convenience trend in Israel, reflected in healthy current value growth in 2023. The enduring popularity of pizza has enabled it to register the strongest current value growth. Still, many local consumers…

Edible oil prices continue to rise as a result of both local and domestic pressures and high inflation, which drives up the cost of amenities essential for manufacturing, such as water and electricity. Recent droughts and poor sunflower seed harvests…

In 2023, Qatar anticipates a surge in cooking ingredient sales following the positive impact of post-World FIFA Cup tourism and ongoing efforts to attract investments. The country's luxury-driven society is set to further boost consumption. Urban…

In 2023, Oman's cooking ingredients industry has shifted due to higher prices from global inflation. Consumers are now leaning towards healthier choices, affecting demand for traditional cooking ingredients. Freshness remains a priority, leading to…

Demand for cooking ingredients and meals remained under huge pressure in 2023 as the impact of Lebanon’s severe socioeconomic crisis continued to undermine the spending power of much of the local population. However, the situation is improving slowly…

In 2023, Kuwait is facing economic challenges due to both global inflation and the restrictions on expat entries, causing a slowdown in demand for cooking ingredients. Inflation, notably soaring cooking oil prices, directly affected both…

In 2023, cooking ingredients and meals will no longer be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the on-trade industry is booming once again. Despite high inflation in 2022, prices, particularly edible oils, have dropped, however, the industry…

The cost of living continues to rise in Israel, and economic uncertainty is leading to wariness about investing in the domestic economy. Inflation reached the highest levels since 2008 in January 2023. Electricity prices rose by 9% in August 2022,…

Consumers in the United Arab Emirates are increasingly seeking healthier options of sweet spreads, including those with reduced sugar content and fewer additives. In addition, nut and seed based spreads are gaining popularity in the local market,…

The market for sweet spreads continued to see positive growth in volume terms in 2023, albeit at a slower pace than the previous year. This was mainly due to the stabilisation of sales via the foodservice channel, following a boom in the aftermath of…

Local consumers are becoming increasingly focused on health and wellness trends, resulting in an increase in demand for sauces with healthy claims. Health-conscious consumers are selecting alternatives to traditional high-calorie sauces, as well as…

Following a two-year period of decline, sauces, dips and condiments returned to positive growth in retail volume terms in 2023. In 2021 and 2022, demand was negatively impacted by disruptions to the global supply chain, which pushed up production…

The local workforce has returned, with employees actively seeking convenience as they rebalance their professional and personal lives. Therefore, retail demand for ready meals and prepared salads continues to steadily rise in the United Arab Emirates…

Meals and soups witnessed positive growth in volume terms in 2023, thanks to the normalisation of consumer lifestyles post-pandemic, including the reopening of schools and the return of consumers to their physical workplaces. The number of women in…