Western Europe

Retail value sales were positive in 2023, benefiting from the spring-cleaning season at Easter. However, the bulk of retail value growth was the result of rising inflation, which led to increased price points. As such, while retail value growth was…

Surface care suffered a third consecutive year of declining volume sales in 2023, in contrast to the surge in demand seen in 2020. The advent of the COVID-19 virus in Italy had a very strong positive impact on retail sales in both volume and current…

Higher retail price points in 2023 can be attributed to rising input costs, including energy, material sourcing, labour, supply chain distribution and logistics. These increased costs are often transferred to retail price points.

In 2023, surface care saw value growth dampened by the consumer switch to less expensive product options in the midst of a marked rise in the cost of living and an uncertain economic environment. The private label segment was a notable beneficiary of…

Demand for surface care showed signs of stabilisation in 2023, as consumers settled back into familiar patterns of cleaning behaviour, following a surge in interest in hygiene following the outbreak of COVID-19. Nonetheless, consumers remained more…

In response to a high inflationary environment and cost-of-living pressures, households are placing a paramount focus on price value in their surface care choices. Manufacturers are addressing this by employing attribute bundling in their product…

Surface care posted a positive performance in 2023 driven by the convenience trend and sustained high levels of hygiene consciousness following the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, despite the return to more normal social and economic activity in the wake…

Consumers in 2023 were on the look-out for surface cleaners offering high levels of convenience and (perceived) savings, and as such turned to multi-purpose cleaners in the hope that one product could do the bulk of the work, helping to slow the…

The pandemic increased consumers’ hygiene awareness, leading to a surge in sales of surface care in 2020, when COVID-19 first emerged. Demand for surface care has continued to be strong since, with 2023 seeing higher sales than pre-pandemic levels,…

In 2023, manufacturers launched concentrated, economical, environmentally friendly and refillable surface care items. This shift aligns with the growing consumer demand for sustainable and cost-effective solutions. One example is Cif Clean Boost…

Surface care sales declined in Western Europe in 2021, but remained well above pre-pandemic levels after the marked growth spike seen in 2020. Unlike 2020, there was no stockpiling of products in 2021, and consumers were also relaxing somewhat the…

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…

In 2023, toilet care saw some modest current value growth thanks to inflationary pressures increasing average unit prices. Despite the impact of inflation on unit prices, the focus on toilet care remains significant among Austrian consumers. The…

The outbreak of COVID-19 and the measures taken to contain it had a positive impact on sales of toilet care in 2020. With consumers working and studying from home they were using the toilet more frequently and thus this boosted demand for toilet…

Higher input costs continued to have a pronounced impact on retail price points, with strong increases noted during 2023. As inflation remained high, albeit lower than the 2022 peak, there was heightened consumer price-sensitivity. This underpinned a…

The notable unit price growth in 2023 has prompted many Finns to optimise their consumption of toilet care products. Consumers are shifting away from in-cistern toilet blocks (ITBs) towards toilet liquids/foams due to their lower cost and the ability…

Toilet care was one of the few categories to see growth in retail volume terms in 2023. Rim blocks saw a return to growth in 2023 with sales benefiting from the convenience of these products as consumers returned to busy lifestyles away from the…

In Germany, there is a term called "Sitzpinkler" for men who sit while urinating, driven by concerns related to hygiene, health and the growing influence of smartphones. Therefore, maintaining proper toilet care remained a significant priority for…

Fragrance is a key area of new developments in toilet care, as players vie to catch consumers' attention. For example, third-placed overall brand Klinex (Unilever Hellas SA) launched a new series of rim blocks with essential oils, with unique…

The outbreak of COVID-19 led to an increase in sales of toilet care, as consumers became increasingly concerned with hygiene levels. However, in 2023, while retail value sales remained high due to inflation, retail volume suffered from rising price…