Western Europe

Plant-based dairy, primarily oat-based, remained the most popular category in health and wellness dairy products and alternatives in Sweden in 2022. The category was notably boosted by the pandemic which led to consumers paying more attention to…

Although Spanish consumers had to tighten their belts in 2022 due to high inflationary pressures, various health and wellness dairy products and alternatives witnessed growth during the year. Demand for low fat/no fat claims stabilised in 2022, with…

Healthy and sustainable food is a topic of primary importance for many Italians, who not only want to improve their own health but also contribute towards improving the health of the planet. The growing interest in vegan butter and spreads is…

Turkey has a long history of consumers enjoying dips, although these are often either made from scratch at home, or consumed in neighbourhood restaurants. However, recently there has been an increase in the availability of packaged dips, which are…

In general, there has been long-term growth in vegetarian cooking ingredients and meals. In 2022, there was a temporary dip in retail sales of these products, although this was mainly an adjustment after a sharp increase in retail sales of vegetarian…

Vegetarian, vegan and plant-based alternatives saw a boom in popularity in several packaged food categories towards the end of the review period with ready meals being no exception. There is a strong demand for healthier food alternatives in Sweden,…

In an inflationary environment, unevenly rising prices inevitably affected the purchasing power of many Spanish consumers in 2022, hampering the growth of certain health and wellness cooking ingredients and meals. Despite the temporary downhill…

Organic products came to the fore in several categories within cooking ingredients and meals in 2022. As demand has risen retailers’ shelves have become increasingly crowded with organic products with many stores creating specific areas of their…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

Pasta has seen demand rise as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. As a staple product that can be stored and cooked easily, even by novice cooks, pasta saw great sales growth during the lockdown period and continued to benefit even after the easing of…

The number of people adopting vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian diets is growing in France. While still somewhat underdeveloped as compared to neighbouring markets such as the UK and Germany, this trend has gained momentum in recent years, primarily…

The oat boom continues expanding in Finland. Not only are oats a traditional Nordic superfood, but there is also considerable new product development allowing brands to deliver value-added benefits. The health benefits of oats are widely known in…

Consumers are becoming more concerned about sustainability, climate impact and animal welfare, as well as health issues, which is leading to a decline in meat consumption on a regular basis and promoting a choice of meat free alternatives. Thanks to…

Sugar has become a key focus of consumer health concerns on the back of increasing publicity around the role of excessive sugar consumption in the development of a range of health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Sugary…

Overall volume sales of organic soft drinks in France declined for a second consecutive year in 2022, and at a steeper rate than in 2021. This was partly explained by the stabilisation of consumption patterns, as demand for such products surged in…

The selection of functional soft drinks is growing in Finland and consumers are exhibiting great interest in products that offer added protein and an energy boost. Finns lead hectic and active lifestyles in the cold and dark Nordic climate, making…

There are multiple health and wellness claims in soft drinks, including natural and organic; fortified with vitamins and minerals; superfruit and immune system or brain work support; energy boosting and mental health care. These are targeted at a…

The increasing awareness of the link between high sugar consumption and obesity, especially amongst children, has shed light on the importance of reducing the sugar content of highly calorific foods, including snacks. Indeed, growing awareness of the…

French consumers have long been cognisant of how sugar intake can be a significant contributory factor in the development of conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay, as the effects of this substance have been a focal point in media…

Health claims related to xylitol remain relevant in the Finnish snacks market, and snack products containing xylitol are gaining in popularity. The Jenkki brand and its xylitol health claims have been present since the first xylitol sweetened gum was…

During the COVID-19 pandemic era there was an increase in sales of indulgence and comfort food, such as cookies, and confectionery. However, by 2022, there was a marked return to normality, with people seeking out products that were better for them.…

The experiences of the COVID-19 crisis led consumers to feel that products such as hot drinks should not only satisfy thirst and need, but also provide elements to boost the functioning of their immune systems and help with their health. This has…

After having been one of the star performers in the French hot drinks market over 2020-2021, fruit/herbal tea saw retail volume sales decline sharply in 2022. This was partly due to steep price hikes and the erosion of purchasing power amidst a…

Finns are clearly migrating towards fruit/herbal tea, green tea and other tea, which are snatching sales away from black tea. This movement is being powered by the health and wellness trend, as well as Finns’ keenness to experiment with new products…

Fruit/herbal tea is often fortified/functional and is growing in popularity in the country due to its positive impact on mental and physical health. This tea is marketed as helping to overcome anxiety and stress thanks to its properties that help…

Protein is perhaps the most popular ingredient consumers currently look for in almost any packaged food in the Greek market. With the increasing interest in regular exercise and sporting activity after the outbreak of COVID-19, Greek consumers have…

According to Euromonitor’s Voice of the Consumers Lifestyles survey, in 2022 more than 2% of people in France were vegan, while almost 3% were vegetarian. While these figures are still quite low compared to markets such as the UK and Germany, the…

Sugar has increasingly become the focus of consumer health concerns around the world, with excessive consumption of sugar in modern diets associated with the development of a number of health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and…

Lactose free products continued to be of interest to consumers in Denmark, with sales of these products driven by large brands, such as Arla, Naturmælk and Thise. Lactose free is a strong trend because of food allergies and lactose intolerance, while…

The ready meals category is not as strong in Greece as in other Western countries due to the fact that Greek households still remain fairly traditional, with families eating primarily home cooked meals instead of buying packaged ready meals. This…

Overall volume sales of low fat cooking ingredients and meals continued to increase in France in 2022. Buoyant demand reflected rising consumer awareness of the health risks associated with being overweight or obese, a well-established trend that…

Nordic rapeseed oil is benefiting from being seen as a locally sourced superfood, boosting sales of domestic cooking oils. It is noteworthy that, as the global supply of sunflower oil suffered shortages in 2022, Finns increasingly turned to locally…

Environmental and animal welfare care, as well as health concerns, are providing a boost to sales of plant-based, meat free, and vegan cooking ingredients and meals. Organic-focused consumers also often look for foods to enable them to substitute…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

Alongside rising consumer awareness in the UK on the importance of healthy nutrition, the HFSS regulation (High in Fat, Salt, and Sugar) has become a catalyst for even greater innovation in the health space. In October 2022, restrictions on product…

With local consumers becoming increasingly health-conscious and looking for healthier breakfast options, the demand for low or no added sugar breakfast cereals in Germany has increased in recent years. These alternative options contain reduced levels…

With the health trend gathering momentum on an annual basis in Belgium, the importance of product Nutri-Scores has been strengthening. In general, local consumers are seeking out staple products that are good for their health and which feature…

Local consumers are increasingly prioritising perceived healthier soft drinks, not only due to greater concerns over their health or to a more expanded knowledge of their own needs, but also because of the more expensive retail prices of soft drinks…

In 2022, health claims within soft drinks that were a good source of antioxidants, minerals or vitamins grew significantly in Germany. This growth was driven by increasing consumer awareness and interest in nutrition and wellness, as Germans sought…

As obesity and general health are growing concerns among Belgium’s population, low and no sugar soft drinks are becoming more popular and are taking sales share from regular soft drinks. The leader of the category, Coca-Cola, is a significant example…

Retail value sales of low sugar snacks continued to grow in 2022. Since the pandemic, local consumers have been paying greater attention to the impact that food has on their health, especially as media reports highlighted that those who are…

Demand for snack bars and fruit snacks in Germany experienced steady growth towards the end of the review period. With increasing interest in health and wellness, many local consumers are looking for convenient and on-the-go options that provide the…

The health trend gathered momentum in Belgium during 2022 as consumers became increasingly concerned about rising obesity rates. This in turn generated greater interest in healthier snacks. Indeed, when seeking to snack and indulge themselves,…