Middle East

The briefing examines how the cotton commodity performs globally and in the largest countries in terms of supply and production. The report also provides data and analysis on cotton price dynamics, as well as trends across key commodity consuming…

In line with the increasing local trend for private label across food and beverages, tea in the United Arab Emirates is also benefiting from the gradual emergence of private label. In the face of moderate inflation and overall fragmentation within…

Sports drinks in the United Arab Emirates remains a young category with further high growth potential following its dynamic performance in 2022 and 2023. The concept of fitness, increasingly integrated into consumers’ lifestyles, has only emerged…

Demand for soft drinks in the United Arab Emirates (in both off-trade and on-trade channels) is growing in 2023, despite global economic challenges. The purchasing power of most local consumers remains high, as a major proportion of the population…

RTD tea in the United Arab Emirates is among three categories within soft drinks demonstrating double-digit growth rates in 2023. Its success is partly being driven by its novelty factor in the local market, in line with the continuing success of RTD…

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…

Frequent government changes have led to political instability in Kuwait and corruption is pervasive, although state finances remain in rude health. A strong economic performance is due to high oil prices, as well as solid domestic demand, but…

Although Bahrain’s political system lacks freedoms and corruption remains pervasive, an extremely low tax burden raises economic freedom. Whilst inflation has again entered negative territory and economic development is moderating, the foreign…

Traditionally in the United Arab Emirates, other hot drinks are represented mainly by chocolate-based flavoured powder drinks and malt-based hot drinks. Share of other formats were extremely low with no brands emerging to drive up their share.…

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…

Many hot drinks in the United Arab Emirates are considered to be less essential compared to food categories and some soft drinks categories, such as bottled water and juice. This makes them vulnerable in the face of inflation, economic instability or…

Energy drinks in the United Arab Emirates are often marketed using images depicting young adult consumers as enthusiastic, fit, smart and adventurous. This type of advertising can attract children and teenagers, who are becoming increasingly…

Demand for both powder concentrates and liquid concentrates has been declining in the United Arab Emirates for several years. General health awareness and concerns around sugar consumption are discouraging local consumers from purchasing these…

Recent inflation, the demand for premium indulgence and strong coffee traditions are shaping the category in a way that offers sufficient products within each price segment. Premium coffee options in multiple blends and flavours are offered by…

Across carbonates, reduced sugar options are gaining popularity in the United Arab Emirates. This trend is being widely supported by advertising and promotions. Hypermarkets and forecourt retailers are introducing floor and shelf banners advertising…

With the emerging inflation and competitive landscape being reshaped, private label is starting to regain shelf space in many categories, including bottled water. Since water is considered a basic and affordable product in consumers’ minds, private…

The staple foods market was characterised by strong price rises in 2023. Following increases in the prices of dairy, all major players announced price increases in the packaged food market. The price of supervised breads increased for the second time…

Instability in Iraq’s financial sector and has led to instability in supply chains and this combined with the efforts of the Iraqi government to control the distribution of staple foods. Since early 2022, the public distribution system (PDS) has been…

In December 2022, Osem announced a price rise for many of its products, including pasta, of 5.9%. Six months later, Osem announced another price hike for its pasta, of 4.5%, that went into effect in June 2023. In May 2023, Shestowitz increased the…

In December 2022, following the price hikes of Tnuva and Unilever, Soglowek announced a price hike of 9.8% on its processed meat and poultry products. The company claimed that this was due to the increase in prices of meat and poultry set by the…