Following the spike in demand that resulted from stockpiling and home seclusion in 2020, soup has experienced a significant slowdown in retail volume sales in 2021. At-home consumption occasions have been diminished as the threat from COVID-19 recedes with the rollout of vaccines, allowing for the return of employees to the office, the reopening of schools and the lifting of public health restrictions that had forced the temporary closure of foodservice outlets.
Dehydrated soup looks set to be the strongest performer in current value growth terms in 2021, and is only expected to post a marginal decline in retail volume sales. As the dominant soup category in Saudi Arabia, it has been able to weather the downturn in overall retail demand better than others thanks to traditional consumption habits and its offer of an extensive assortment of product types and flavour variants.
Following new product developments by a number of manufacturers, the frozen soup category emerged in Saudi Arabia during the first half of 2021. One of the most notable launches was Sunbulah Gourmet Mushroom Soup, which comes in a 1kg pack containing frozen cubes that allow for faster preparation times and easier portion control.
Growth in soup retail volume sales is expected to pick up substantially in 2022, and then continue accelerating at a more gradual pace over the remainder of the forecast period. As consumer lifestyles become busier with the further easing of the pandemic and increased economic activity in Saudi Arabia, appreciation for the convenience of packaged soup will continue to boost sales.
Health concerns will continue to inform consumer choices and shape competitive strategies in soup over the forecast period. Rising awareness of the risk factors associated with conditions like obesity and heart disease will lead more consumers to migrate to reduced fat and reduced salt varieties, which will in turn encourage manufacturers to expand their offer of such products.
Recent years have seen major grocery retailers in Saudi Arabia steadily expand their offer of private label products in soup, with Carrefour and LuLu being among the most active players in this regard. Private label penetration in the category has improved since the outbreak of COVID-19, initially as a result of stockpiling and the economic shock of the pandemic, and latterly because many consumers have become more cautious in their spending habits due to the VAT hike that took effect in 2020 and ongoing uncertainty.
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Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Soup industry in Saudi Arabia with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
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Soups is the aggregation of dried (dehydrated formats), shelf stable and chilled and frozen soups. Includes: Ready-made, pre-packaged soup, regardless of format. Excludes: Liquid stocks and or stock/bouillon cubes. These are tracked in sauces, dressings and condiments, under cooking ingredients. Herbal soup mixes common in Asia are also excluded.
See All of Our DefinitionsThis report originates from Passport, our Soup research and analysis database.
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