Staple Foods

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…

Now in its seventh edition, this report explores the top digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this edition touch on topics such as second-hand shopping, community group buying,…

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in business models and consumer behaviour, as well as altering the ways and the geography many of us live, work, study and play. Understanding what changes will stick after the pandemic…

To help companies understand which categories are most primed for sustained e-commerce growth post-pandemic, Euromonitor developed the E-Commerce Readiness Model. This tool uses analytic modelling to determine which countries and categories have the…

As consumers prepare fewer meals overall, while demanding more assistance for the ones they do, spending and brand equity will accrue to those companies providing fresh prepared meals on demand, from delivery aggregators to retailers, restaurant…

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.…

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…

Rising production costs due to the energy crisis, labour shortages, and the increasing price of raw materials across the entire supply chain led to strong rises in the prices of staple foods in 2022. High single-digit price increases are also…

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, 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…

Staple foods in Spain has experienced stagnation in retail volume terms, albeit with a slight improvement compared to the decline seen in the previous year. The lack of movement in retail volume terms largely relates to the significant impact of…

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…

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…

Overall, 2023 was a challenging year for the staple foods sector in Italy, characterised by stagnation in retail sales volumes. However, the market saw considerable current value growth driven by persistent inflationary pressure. During the second…

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…

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…

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…

Sales of staple foods have been negatively impacted by the elevated inflation that hit France in late 2022 and early 2023. As a result, the vast majority of prices went up across staple foods with volume sales either showing minimal growth or even…

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…

In the wake of a tumultuous 2022, beleaguered by soaring inflation and a difficult agricultural season, staple foods in Belgium is enjoying a period of relief in 2023. The previous year's rampant unit price increases cast long shadows, precipitating…

The performance of staples in 2022 was very much linked to the period of normalisation as Austrian consumers came out of home seclusion, backed by the country’s vaccination programme. Particularly after Omicron wave, as movement restrictions were…

After seeing dynamic pandemic-related growth in 2020 due to home seclusion and foodservice closures, rice, pasta and noodles slipped into decline a year later as consumers used up stockpiled goods and were eating out more. However, 2022 saw a return…

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…

In 2022, rice, pasta and noodles was one of the categories that faced strong price increases due to the supply chain crisis, with wheat and rice shortages putting particular pressure on production costs. Further high single-digit price increases are…

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, 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.

After sales were negatively impacted by inflation in 2022, sales of rice, pasta, and noodles have shown more resilience in terms of volume consumption in 2023. Pasta and rice are included in the basic basket of goods in Spain and continue to be…

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…

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 recent years, the consumption of noodles in Italy has seen a notable rise in demand, both in terms of classic noodles and instant noodles. This trend can be attributed to Italian consumers’ growing appreciation of food from other culinary…

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…

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,…

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…

Rice and pasta have both been impacted by price rises, but unlike most other areas of staple foods volume sales in these categories have continued to rise. This is largely due to the fact that these types of products can still offer value for money,…

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…

Sales of rice, pasta, and noodles saw a sharp decline in sales in retail volume terms in 2022 with only modest growth seeing seen in 2023. This can be attributed in large part to a stabilisation of demand following the dynamic growth experienced in…

Rice, pasta and noodles is feeling the impact of the war in Ukraine. Wheat prices, having surged in 2022—continuing a trend from previous difficult harvests in North America— have led to soaring retail prices of dry pasta. Despite a semblance of…

After a very successful 2020 where retail volume sales of rice, pasta and noodles rocketed due to home seclusion – but also due to the stockpiling of pasta products – 2021 saw a more settled year with consumers no longer stockpiling. 2022 was largely…

The digital revolution has been rewiring retail for years, leading to new business models, commerce ecosystems and channels for reaching and engaging consumers. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this transition, as e-commerce became the default…

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…

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…

The consumption of processed meat continues to decline in France in 2023, although the category has continued to see strong growth in current value terms. This contrasting performance is down to the significant price hikes witnessed in 2022 and 2023,…

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…

The maturing meat substitutes market is experiencing a slowdown in volume growth due to several factors. Firstly, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have played a role in the sales decline, impacting consumer behaviour and preferences.…

Sales of processed poultry have continued to grow in retail volume terms in 2023 despite the high price hikes caused by inflation and the increase in the cost of raw materials and energy. These products are still relatively cheap compared to other…

In 2022, the impact of inflation was evident in various areas of the market, including processed meat and processed seafood. Both of these categories experienced a decline in retail volume terms, while seeing healthy growth in current value terms.…

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.…