Tobacco

Almost uniquely among fmcg industries, tobacco legislation is not simply a guiding element or a means of enforcing consumer standards but a central determining factor in the performance of tobacco markets. As the cumulative de-normalising impact of…

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…

This report considers what socialising will look like in a post-COVID-19 era, focusing on several key questions. A return to the “Roaring Twenties” in the beverages space or a continuing decimation of the on-trade? How has socialising changed (eg…

Smoking prevalence continues to decline in Eastern Europe, with retail volume sales of cigarettes also falling. Some consumers continue to try and cut down on their smoking or quit altogether for health reasons, brought into even greater focus by…

Slower growth, surging inflation, rising geopolitical risks and an accelerating deglobalisation trend are factors shaping the global economic, financial and trade landscape in 2022 and beyond. Despite the challenges, there are opportunities for…

The briefing introduces the Cities Households Necessities Spending Index. The index ranks 1,075 cities by household expenditure on non-discretionary items, namely food, housing, and clothing and footwear. This analysis focuses on 160 major cities.…

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…

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,…

Cigarette consumption remained fairly consistent in Bulgaria in 2022 as only very slight declines were registered in smoking prevalence. The popularity of cigarette smoking is being sustained mainly by more mature consumers, with the relative…

Cigars and cigarillos was the tobacco category hardest hit by the social distancing regulations that were enforced in Bulgaria in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 and this is mainly because the consumption of these types of tobacco…

Recent years have seen vaping become very popular and fashionable among the Bulgarian population, with many people who were previously smoking cigarettes or fine cut tobacco having migrated to vaping. This positive trend can be attributed mainly to…

Cigarettes remained the key driver of tobacco sales in Bulgaria during 2022 and this was largely thanks to strong accessibility, the result of relatively low prices across the industry, but especially in cigarettes. Despite the record high inflation…

Rising inflation in addition to further excise tax hikes helped to shift cigarette smokers towards other categories in 2022, including smoking tobacco and vaping. Under such economic conditions retail volume growth has remained under pressure with…

The disappearance of pandemic fears created more opportunities for social events and gatherings in 2022 giving rise to greater smoking occasions. However, mounting inflation and soaring prices hampered demand for cigars as disposable income was…

Heated tobacco saw the arrival of Glo from British American Tobacco Plc in 2022, causing disruption with its new devices priced at some 50% lower than its sole competitor Iqos (Philip Morris Slovakia sro). Heavy marketing support in tobacco…

A new set of excise taxes continued to push retail prices upwards in 2022, which put an additional strain on the already weakened budgets of smokers in Slovakia. Inflationary pressure was also a key factor contributing to double-digit growth of…

Despite facing economic challenges such as constrained household budgets due to two years of confinement and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the cigarette industry has experienced limited opportunities for sales growth. However, even during bleak…

There was a temporary issue with supplies of cigarettes in 2022. Cigarettes are mainly imported from Ukraine, but with war breaking out in Ukraine in 2022, supply lines were severely disrupted. As a result, other trade routes had to be found quickly,…

Returning to offices, lifting bans on social gatherings and events, and reunions with friends boosted smoking occasions. Thus, cigarette market rebounded from the 2021 low level. Although the pandemic has highlighted the importance of maintaining…

In 2022, smoking tobacco experienced a respite. The absence of an excise tax increase resulted in stable prices, preventing a decline in sales volumes. Moreover, the year proved to be particularly favourable for tourism, contributing to increased…