South Africa

Following the dynamic growth seen in tobacco products sales in 2021, which helped the market recoup all the current value losses it suffered due to the pandemic in 2020, a much less dynamic performance was seen in current value terms in 2022, with…

Sales of dishwashing previously boosted by the pandemic stabilised somewhat in 2022 as the majority of consumers started to return to their normal work, school and other pre-pandemic activities. The significant rise in the frequency of cooking at…

As pandemic-related restrictions eased in South Africa, the country faced the highest level of inflation in 2022 seen since 2017. The country witnessed an all-time high rise in the price of various products and services such as food, electricity,…

While the threat of the pandemic waned in South Africa in 2022 and restrictions eased, economic hardship remained. South Africans have experienced a consistent increase in food prices and energy inflation, resulting in many facing financial…

Demand for hosiery in South Africa, both sheer and non-sheer, has been declining since the emergence of the pandemic. Following home seclusion, tough economic conditions emerging towards the end of the review period have meant that hosiery is deemed…

Following significant declines in demand in 2020 in line with pandemic-related restrictions on foodservice establishments, foodservice volume sales of coffee, particularly of fresh coffee beans and standard fresh ground coffee, continue to grow in…

The legal cannabis market has continued to see strong growth on the back of the landmark judgement in 2018, which determined private use and consumption of cannabis as legal. Since then, consumers have increasingly accepted cannabis as a legitimate…

In 2022, airlines in South Africa faced unexpected challenges, leading to devastating consequences for the country's major competitors. Mango, the low cost carrier of South African Airways, had its licence suspended for two years, while Comair, the…

In 2022, flavoured/mixed lager saw the strongest performance of all beer categories, with double-digit total volume growth. While this growth was derived from a relatively low base when compared with more mature beer categories, such as standard…

During the pandemic, most consumers, including children, spent a significant amount of time in front of digital devices due to online studying and remote studying measures in place, as a result of restrictions outside of the home. Increased activity…

In 2022, the country experienced a surge in inflation, leading consumers to become more price-sensitive and prioritise cooking at home instead of visiting horeca establishments. This shift in consumer behaviour had a positive impact on sales of stove…

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the price of fertiliser, which had already surged by 80% in 2021, reached an all-time high in the spring of 2022. According to the World Bank, global fertiliser prices rose by 30% early in the…

After experiencing months of trading restrictions since the pandemic, which translated into an extensive ban on the sale of tobacco products in 2020, as well as curfews and the temporary closure of semi-captive environments such as schools, gyms and…

South Africa’s political landscape continues to be unstable, hindering economic freedom, whilst social unrest negatively impacts peacefulness. Although inflation is falling, the power crisis is adversely affecting economic development and…

In 2022, South Africa suffered significant financial adversity, with the country experiencing multiple power cuts a day, and an increasing cost of living within the country, making it relatively difficult for most consumers to survive. For many…

Since the pandemic, retailers have been reviewing their expansion strategies to focus on providing greater convenience through proximity stores in smaller formats. The trend persisted in 2022, supported by economic volatility, reinforcing a more…

The pandemic and home seclusion notably reduced demand for footwear in South Africa, as consumers refrained from purchasing these items when they were restricted in terms of movement during the lockdowns. However, as restrictions gradually eased and…

South Africa continued to be challenged by various economic pressures in 2022 with the average cost of living increasing. Despite the bleak scenario, childrenswear remained a resilient category within apparel and footwear. Further demand was driven…

There continues to be a noticeable preference for shorter lead-time bookings, particularly when it comes to holiday destinations that are closer to the customer’s home and offer lower travel costs. These include journeys that can be easily undertaken…

Tobacco faced sanctions in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, which saw all tobacco product sales temporarily prohibited, encouraging the illicit trade in cigarettes, which accounted for around a third of overall sales in this year. Following the…