Retailing

Apparel and footwear saw current value growth rise on a par with recent years, with inflation fuelling some growth. This followed a few tough years during the pandemic era when people stayed at home and retail sales were naturally limited. Saved…

The combined impact of the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 created widespread instability in the local economy with high inflation and a sharp rise in prices continuing to be seen in 2023. This limited the recovery of apparel and…

Appliances and electronics in Norway registered an uplift in value sales in 2023, largely due to inflationary pressures, which pushed up retail prices. Consumer demand weakened as interest rate hikes took hold, whilst the weak currency led to higher…

Appliances and electronics specialists saw only modest growth in current value terms in 2023, with the challenging economic environment impacting spending on non-essential items. Although inflation was lower than in 2022 it still remained higher than…

The twin challenges of high inflation and heightened competition continue to impact the performance of convenience retailers in Norway, only prolonging its recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Convenience stores and forecourt retailers…

Convenience retailers benefited from the lifting of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions and the opening of new outlets across Spain. There was also increased foot traffic in urban areas driven by the rise in tourism which supported the growth of…

The pandemic has revived the fortunes and renewed the popularity of the direct selling channel amongst Norwegian consumers, as it led companies to establish new ways of marketing and selling their products, namely by using digital tools, such as…

According to the Spanish Association of Direct Selling, only around 30% of Spaniards purchase products via direct selling. The regions where direct selling has the highest penetration rate are Andalusia, Madrid, and Catalonia. The limited penetration…

Discounters in Norway fared well both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and have been able to sustain this solid performance in 2023. In the face of high inflation, locals are seeking out lower prices when grocery shopping. Price pressures have…

Even though inflation rates declined in 2023 as compared to the record highs registered in 2022, they remained higher compared to pre-pandemic levels. As a result, price remained the main driving factor behind where many people chose to shop for…

Department stores benefited from the increase in inbound tourists seen in Spain in 2023 as foreign tourists love to go to places such as El Corte Inglés to do their shopping and to partake in the uniquely Spanish experience found in its outlets.…

The Danish health and personal care store Normal witnessed a strong performance in 2023 due to the success of its retail concept. Consumers have been flocking to Normal for budget offers in 2023, with the retailer competing on price with both…

The Dia supermarket chain reached an agreement to sell 1,000 Clarel stores to Colombian group Trinity in 2023. The deal, which it is estimated will reach EUR42.2 million, will see payments spread over six years and will include three distribution…

After dynamic growth during the pandemic, home improvement and gardening stores and homeware and home furnishings stores have struggled in 2023. Following increases in shipping costs and electricity alongside large inventories, the channels have…

Russia's invasion of Ukraine had a huge impact on global energy prices, with the impact continuing to be felt in Spain in 2023. High energy prices coupled with high inflation and a sharp rise in the cost of living pushed more Spaniards to look into…

Hypermarket sales have stayed above pre-pandemic levels in 2023, due to a solid performance from the sole player Coop Obs. The retailer employed bulk buying and delivered budget friendly products to compete against other dominant grocery retailers in…

Despite the Spanish government reducing VAT rates and even placing a 0% VAT rate on foods like fruit and vegetables and bread, food prices continued to grow in 2023, with Spain continuing to experience elevated inflation. While some consumer…

Following very strong progress during the pandemic, retail e-commerce continues to grow at a steady pace in Norway, with another solid performance in 2023. This is even true of segments that performed poorly offline, such as homewares and home…

After seeing dynamic double-digit growth year-on-year throughout the review period retail e-commerce saw a slowdown in 2023 in current value terms, with consumer electronics e-commerce even posting a decline in sales. Elevated inflation, rising…

Inflationary pressures have led to stronger price competition in Norway’s retail landscape. Food price increases have been a notable issue for grocery retailers resulting in intense competition between supermarkets and discounters. Players have come…