Snacks

The demand for chocolate confectionery remained stable in 2023, with a slight increase in volume terms but a solid rise in value sales. Value growth stemmed largely from increases in average unit prices. The overall rate of inflation in the country…

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on chocolate confectionery in Belgium, particularly in terms of gifting chocolate formats. With the closure of many non-essential stores and the cancellation of social events such as weddings…

The high rate of inflation prevailing in 2022 and 2023 has not had a major negative impact on the chocolate confectionery category in Denmark. Local players have managed to increase their sales and value by increasing prices, while favourable…

Inflation and increasing production costs are lifting unit prices in 2023, resulting in healthy retail value growth.

Retail sales of chocolate confectionery saw a sluggish performance in 2023, with minimal growth in both volume and constant value terms. As in 2022, sales were impacted by unseasonably hot summer weather, which hindered purchases during certain…

Germany was strongly impacted by the pandemic in 2020-2021, due to various restrictions imposed on the local population. However, the situation was positive for most retailers due to the closure of foodservice and limited leisure activities outside…

Oats have emerged as an increasingly popular ingredient in chocolate confectionery among Greek consumers. Violanta, a player active in both sweet biscuits and chocolate confectionery, has capitalised on this trend by diversifying its product range…

In 2023, chocolate confectionery in Ireland is driven by a strong consumer desire for indulgence and celebration. Chocolate is not merely a sweet treat, but a symbol of joy and festivity, making it a preferred choice for marking special occasions.…

Over 2022, a number of categories of chocolate confectionery declined in retail volume sales terms. However, some registered growth: chocolate pouches and bags, seasonal chocolate and chocolate with toys. The return to pre-Coronavirus (COVID-19)…

There is set to be a moderate decline for chocolate confectionery sales in 2023, primarily due to resumed cross-border trade with Sweden. In addition, ongoing inflations have led to an increase in unit price points, which has challenged sales as…

Despite the increase in chocolate confectionery consumption during the pandemic, due to consumers spending more time at home and indulging in treats, the category continues to grow, both in volume and value. We are, however, seeing different trends…

Chocolate confectionery suffered less from inflation in 2022 compared to many other food categories as global cocoa prices remained stable. However, rising prices of ingredients such as sugar, milk, and oils still put additional pressure on…

Chocolate confectionery, as a product area, is set to see retail volume sales continue to normalise in 2023 following the surge seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, inflation and rising production costs had an impact on the development of unit…

Overall, despite economic uncertainties in the country, demand for chocolate confectionery is resilient in 2023.

During the pandemic, consumers sought comfort in chocolate due to spending more time at home and had limited access to foodservice outlets. However, in 2023, there is a slight decline in chocolate sales volume, especially noticeable in the tablets…

The UK’s economy was challenged by strong inflationary pressures in 2022. Similar to other categories in snacks, chocolate confectionery manufacturers were challenged by multiple shortages in the supply chain, which led to increasing costs in…

When inflation started to be significant in 2017 in Turkey, chocolate confectionery was experiencing a peak in volume growth, benefiting from new launches. Throughout the high inflation period, companies looked to downsize standard tablet chocolate…

Chocolate confectionery was hit by the loss of impulse/on-the-go sales, fewer gifting occasions and a disrupted Easter period in 2020 due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), significantly affecting categories such as boxed assortments and seasonal chocolate.…

In the upcoming years, consumers and businesses face an array of challenges, with income inequality, mass migration and rising uncertainty about another crisis being among the major ones. Nevertheless, within this lie untapped opportunities. This…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. In 2023, global inflation is expected to ease from its peak in 2022, but remaining significantly above-trend. Geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market are…

The report examines inflation level and drivers globally and in the key countries. Global inflation is forecast to accelerate due to higher energy and commodity prices, disruptions in supply chains and weaker business confidence. Impact varies…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…

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…

The global outlook has improved as of Q1 2021, thanks to vaccination progress in many developed countries. Nevertheless, the recovery prospects remain distant for most economies in the face of the spread of new, more infectious variants of the virus.…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession in nearly a century. Businesses are operating in a world of anxieties and uncertainties, not knowing what will be the new normal or when output and consumer spending…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession since World War II. In Q4 2020, the end of the pandemic started as countries began administering effective vaccines among the population; however, vaccine distribution…

After low demand during the pandemic years, gum sales were up in 2023, after experiencing a revival in 2022. The relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions and the reduced incidence of wearing masks pushed up demand for chewing gum in 2023. Gum is mainly…

The gum category suffered a significant setback due to the COVID-19 health crisis in 2020, particularly as it heavily relies on impulse purchasing. Many consumers opted for online shopping amidst pandemic-induced lockdowns, which led to a steep…

The health and wellness trend continues to grow in Denmark. Danish consumers are increasingly concerned about sticking to a healthy lifestyle and are looking for healthy snack options. Within the gum category, manufacturers are trying to meet the…

Gum in Finland is dominated by free-from-sugar gum offerings, specifically, gum created with the sweetener xylitol, which has been available in Finland since the 1970s when the leading brand, Jenkki, introduced the innovation to the landscape.…

Chewing gum saw a second year of positive, albeit modest growth in retail volume terms in 2023, following a period of heavy losses due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the category benefited to some extent from the return of consumers to…

While for many snacks, the pandemic period of home seclusion led to higher uptake in Germany, gum suffered from declining sales. Gum tends to be purchased spontaneously and, in addition to the taste and chewing experience, the product is also…

Despite the potential impact of price increases across various snack categories, chewing gum in Greece has exhibited considerable resilience. The typically low price point of chewing gum has ensured that its products remains an accessible purchase…

Gum retail volume sales are stagnating in 2023 as the cost of living mitigates consumption slightly. Chewing gum is largely an impulse purchase, which make up two-thirds of gum purchases. Many consumers are therefore buying it on a whim rather than…

Gum is set to continue to see retail volume growth over 2023, albeit solely due to chewing gum and at a slower rate than in 2022. As a result, retail volume sales are set to remain below the 2019 re-pandemic level at the end of the review period.…

Gum sales are set to experience a moderate decline in retail volume in 2023. Much of this will be driven by the resumption of cross-border trade with Sweden. As the Swedish border opens up and domestic prices increase from a new, lower baseline due…

Gum is slowly recovering from the declines in sales seen during the era of the COVID-19 restrictions. Gum consumption dropped substantially from the start of the pandemic, hampered by a decline in on-the-go consumption, with many consumers eventually…

Gum has seen strong growth in both value and volume terms for the second consecutive year in 2023, although sales have still not reached pre-pandemic levels in volume terms. Gum sales depend to a large extent on distribution via impulse channels,…

Gum sales, primarily driven by impulse purchases, faced a significant setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With consumers spending more time at home, the need for gum as a quick oral cleaning solution diminished. As a result, gum sales struggled to…

Gum is posting a negative performance in 2023, with both retail volume and value sales falling, despite rising price points. A major challenge for gum sales is the increased use of self-scan checkouts. Due to gum being an impulse and on-the-go…

During the pandemic, gum, as a product area, experienced added challenges. With reduced social interactions, increased remote work, and home schooling, mouth fresheners became less relevant to consumers. Unfortunately, even after the pandemic…

Following two consecutive years of sales decline, gum showed the first signs of recovery from the impact of COVID-19 in 2022. With local consumers gradually returning to their pre-pandemic habits and spending greater time outside of the home, gum…

The outbreak of COVID-19 decreased the occasions of gum since consumers did not go to offices or schools, and consumers spent more time in the household. This reduced the use of gum as a breath-freshening product, leading to negative growth of gum.

With much-reduced impulse and on-the-go consumption occasions in 2020 due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns, closures and travel restrictions, impulse and unpackaged ice cream sales declined, resulting in a negative performance by the overall…

The trend towards plant-based products, including ice cream, continued in 2023. Plant-based ice cream recorded the most significant growth within ice cream during the year. Not only is the consumer interest in plant-based ice cream growing, but the…

Consumers have resumed their more active lifestyles outside the home since quarantine limitations were lifted, which has also affected their product preferences. This change has also had an impact on the ice cream category, with more people beginning…

Even though Danes love ice cream and consume quite a lot of it, the category has struggled in volume terms in 2022 and 2023 due to rising prices. Rising electricity prices contributed to the increased cost of transporting and storing ice cream…

Finns are amongst the biggest consumers of ice cream in Europe. While sales fluctuate according to whether the Nordic summer is warm or cool, it is noteworthy that Finns are widely known to indulge in ice cream in the winter, aiding sales on the…

Ice cream represented the most buoyant category of the French snacks market in 2023, continuing the trend of the previous year. Sales were boosted by hot summer weather, combined with new product launches, which encouraged consumer purchases. Ice…