Staple Foods

Retail sales recorded a clear demand spike in 2020 due to COVID-19 and its restrictions, which decimated the foodservice performance. Recovery in the latter channel and a gradual return to greater normality negatively affected retail sales in 2021.…

Technological advances in 2024 will continue to reshape consumer behaviour. This annual report explores the top five digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this report’s edition…

In 2023, staple foods in Germany faced significant challenges marked by high price increases across various product categories. Despite these economic pressures, staple foods like pasta, rice and bread retained their indispensability in the daily…

In 2023, Germany grappled with a notable surge in the prices of fundamental food commodities, such as pasta and rice. Various factors contributed to the escalating costs, with the main ones being the conflict in Ukraine and the pervasive effects of…

The war in Ukraine disrupted trade routes, influencing the cost of animal feed, transportation and other expenses linked to meat production. The rising costs of agricultural commodities due to the war in Ukraine and the trade restrictions on Russia…

In 2022 and 2023, Germany was witnessing a surge in inflation, primarily driven by the escalating costs within the food industry. Processed fruit and vegetables, in particular, have been grappling with notable price hikes. These increases can be…

The evolving landscape of consumer behaviour after the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shape the choices of Germans, including when it comes to breakfast cereals. The extended periods of working from home and an increased emphasis on indoor living…

High ingredient and energy prices have had a significant impact on the production costs of baked goods in Germany. The German baking industry has been facing mounting challenges due to rising expenses. Ingredients such as flour, sugar, butter or eggs…

Turkey implemented an economic programme in May 2023 to help navigate the delicate equilibrium between domestic demand and export priorities, as articulated by the financial authorities of Turkey. Practically, this indicates the policies set forth…

Staple foods overall is recording a decline in total volume but an increase in value, primarily due to rising prices, in Portugal in 2023. The foodservice sector has recovered to its 2019 sales levels, significantly aided by tourism. However, on-site…

The energy crisis and high inflation continues to impact staple foods in 2023. Consumers are trying to save money either by reducing the amount of products they buy or switching to more affordable options, including private label. Retailers are…

The high demand for pasta in Turkey is largely based on its practicality, especially for large households. This spiked demand at the peak of the pandemic as many consumers spent all of their time indoors. This meant that many consumers were more…

Pasta in Portugal is currently facing challenges due to inflation and the war in Ukraine. These factors have led to escalated raw material costs, notably cereals, and increased production expenses such as energy and packaging. The war's impact is…

Despite the energy crisis and rising inflation, pasta is witnessing robust volume and current value growth in 2023. Pasta is a relatively cheap staple food that is used to make a variety of dishes and with the cost of living crisis still in play,…

As meat prices continued to increase in 2023, processed red meat prices also rose. However, as a relatively cheap option to fresh meat, chilled and frozen processed red meat continued to see demand grow. Meanwhile, companies reduced their portion…

Processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat in Portugal is currently grappling with the impact of significantly increased energy and raw material costs, some of which have doubled. The situation has severely affected category members, leading to…

In 2023, retail volume sales of processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat remained in decline due to inflationary pressures. Since 2022, increases in the cost of raw materials, shipping costs, labour wages and energy have led to substantial…

Over 2023, retail volume sales of processed fruit and vegetables are projected to witness stagnation, due to multiple factors. Rising product prices, heavy pressure on purchasing power and the increasing popularity of ready meals as alternatives…

In recent years, the consumption of shelf stable beans in Portugal has seen a significant upturn, a trend largely attributed to the pandemic. The prolonged shelf life of these products offered consumers a sense of security during uncertain times,…

The fast pace of modern life in Greece is forcing consumers to look for quick and easy meal solutions. As a result, the demand for frozen fries is on the increase, driving sales of frozen processed potatoes. Frozen fries are a quick cooking option…

Breakfast cereals in Portugal has been significantly impacted by rising costs and cereal shortages, leading to a notable increase in consumer demand for private label lines. These private label products, known for their affordability and diverse…

Breakfast cereals have witnessed strong price inflation in recent years and this trend remains prominent in 2023. Many Greeks are opting to make their own cereals instead of buying packaged cereals, guided by a plethora of easy recipes available…

Baked goods underwent two price adjustments, based on annual yield and announced annual wheat prices. The aim was to keep price increases for unpacked leavened white bread below the rate of inflation, which was very high, to provide affordability. To…

Baked goods in Portugal in 2023 is seeing a shift in consumer purchasing patterns, predominantly influenced by the persisting impact of inflation. Despite a decrease in inflation rates, the purchasing power of consumers remains constrained. Bread, a…

Inflation and regular price increases have significantly affected the baked goods category in 2023. Amid rising costs, bakeries suffered a significant drop in revenues, meaning price increases were essential as most players could not absorb the…

In 2023, staple foods in Switzerland experienced positive growth, driven by a combination of factors. Convenience continued to be a key factor contributing to the growth of staple foods, as Swiss consumers sought quick and easy meal solutions to…

In 2023, staple foods in Sweden witnessed several key trends, influenced by consumer preferences, economic factors, and the ongoing health and wellness movement. Staple foods, including rice, pasta, and noodles, which saw a strong uptick in demand…

Many producers of staple foods are facing challenges in balancing the rising cost of energy, ingredients, packaging and logistics in 2023. While the prices of many products are rising some of the leading grocery retailers have played a major role in…

Rice, pasta, and noodles enjoyed positive performance in 2023, remaining popular staples in Switzerland. The category's enduring appeal can be attributed to the convenience it offers. With many Swiss consumers seeking quick and easy meal solutions as…

In 2023, sales of rice, pasta, and noodles rebounded to pre-pandemic levels as foodservice sales continued their recovery and retail sales dropped back. Additionally, unit prices saw growth due to inflation and increased production costs.

Rice prices have been on somewhat of a rollercoaster. While many agricultural commodities have shown signs of stabilisation, the supply of rice was hit hard in 2023 by India’s export ban on rice. With India looking to ensure it has enough rice to…

In Sweden, the market for processed meat, seafood, and meat alternatives experienced a return to normal sales in 2023 after the pandemic. The foodservice sector recovered as dining out rebounded, while retail sales reverted to pre-COVID-19 levels.…

In 2023, processed meat and seafood in Switzerland continued to perform well. While there is a marked shift toward poultry consumption, red meat still represented the largest proportion of meat consumed in the country. Swiss consumers are…

Sales of processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat saw dynamic growth during the pandemic as consumers were forced to eat more meals at home, but with the health crisis now over retail volume sales are gradually stabilising. While sales are…

In 2023, processed fruit and vegetables in Switzerland experienced marginal volume growth. Swiss consumers have shown a preference for fresh and natural products, often perceiving processed options as having fewer nutritional qualities. However, the…

In 2023, processed fruit and vegetables experienced a return to normal sales as the foodservice industry rebounded, and retail sales returned to pre-pandemic levels. However, unit prices were impacted by inflation and increased production costs,…

Price increases have had a major effect on the consumption of processed fruit and vegetables in Norway. Consumers pay a lot of attention to the price per kilo and this influences which products they choose to buy, with this becoming particularly…

In 2023, breakfast cereals maintained its positive performance in Switzerland. The continued adoption of the hybrid work format allowed people to allocate more time to breakfast, boosting cereal consumption. Furthermore, muesli and granola, deeply…

In 2023, breakfast cereals have experienced normalising sales as the foodservice sector continues its recovery. However, retail sales have dropped back to pre-pandemic levels. Simultaneously, unit prices have seen an increase due to inflation and…

Sales of breakfast cereals have continued to decline in retail volume terms in 2023, with this being partly due to a stabilisation of demand after the peak seen during the pandemic. With more consumers returning to the workplace and class-based…

Baked goods in Switzerland in 2023 remained stable in terms of volume, driven by a growing awareness of healthier product choices, leading many consumers to moderate their consumption of baked goods. However, the product area saw an increase in value…

In 2023, baked goods in Sweden continues to exhibit normalising sales. After the pandemic, sales through foodservice took a hit, leading consumers to shift towards retail as they preferred dining at home. Additionally, unit prices have continued to…

Consumers in Norway have become more health conscious since the pandemic with people focusing more on their diet. Within this, fibre has received a lot of attention with media articles appearing highlighting the importance of a high fibre diet to a…

In 2023, the landscape of staple foods is marked by several key trends and factors. Volume growth is generally down as households try to buy less and save money due to squeezed incomes. This decline in volume growth is offset by value growth driven…

In 2023, packaged staple foods in Ireland saw a significant shift in consumer behaviour and industry dynamics. Traditional favourites such as potatoes, bread, meat, eggs and fish remain the most commonly consumed staple foods. However, increased…

As the threat of and restrictions related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis eased and lifted towards the end of the review period, Finnish consumers were again able to move freely and resume their pre-pandemic purchasing and consumption habits. As…

In 2023, the foodservice industry has shown further signs of recovery, leading to stabilised sales of staple foods, while retail sales have reverted to pre-pandemic patterns. However, due to global political and economic instability, Denmark has…

The unpackaged trend is gaining momentum with increased sales of unpackaged rice and pasta in both organic and conventional supermarkets. Retailers are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint associated with packaging, attracting…

Rice, noodles and pasta saw a significant shift towards healthier options in 2023. Irish consumers increasingly sought wholewheat pasta, brown rice and quinoa noodles, reflecting growing awareness of the importance of a balanced diet and the benefits…

Like all other categories of staple foods in Finland, rice, pasta and noodles saw a normalising trajectory in terms of the retail-foodservice volume sales split towards the end of the review period. As the threat of and restrictions related to…