Middle East

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…

In 2023, closed loop pre-paid cards witnessed a decline in transaction value and volume, consistent with a continuing trend as consumers increasingly shift towards payment apps. Despite some consumers still having significant value loaded onto their…