Western Europe

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…

Western European snacks sales were relatively unaffected by the pandemic, other than showing a slight demand spike in retail value terms when COVID-19 hit the region in 2020. However, high inflation in the post-pandemic period negatively impacted the…

Sweet biscuits, snacks bars and fruit snacks recorded solid growth in value terms in 2023. Sweet biscuits continued to generate the lion’s share of value and volume sales during the year. Overall, the increase in levels of mobility after the period…

Sugar confectionery registered good growth in value and volume terms during 2023. Pastilles, gums, jellies and chews continued to generate the largest proportion of value sales and experienced good value growth in 2023, contributing strongly to the…

Austrian consumers are extremely fond of snacking. Whether confectionery, savoury snacks, ice cream or sweet biscuits, snacks bars and fruit snacks, consumers like to treat themselves with a snack. The demand for snacks remained stable in 2023 with…

Savoury snacks experienced significant growth in value terms during 2023. However, this significant value growth stemmed mainly from price increases, with inflation remaining high in Austria for the second consecutive year. Within snacks, savoury…

The trend towards plant-based products, including ice cream, continued in 2023. Plant-based ice cream recorded the most significant growth within ice cream during the year. Not only is the consumer interest in plant-based ice cream growing, but the…

After low demand during the pandemic years, gum sales were up in 2023, after experiencing a revival in 2022. The relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions and the reduced incidence of wearing masks pushed up demand for chewing gum in 2023. Gum is mainly…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

The demand for chocolate confectionery remained stable in 2023, with a slight increase in volume terms but a solid rise in value sales. Value growth stemmed largely from increases in average unit prices. The overall rate of inflation in the country…

Private label – retailers’ alternatives to brands – tend to benefit from inflation. However, despite record inflation in France, Germany and the UK, the market share of private label in the three countries remained broadly stable across FMCGs in…

In the upcoming years, consumers and businesses face an array of challenges, with income inequality, mass migration and rising uncertainty about another crisis being among the major ones. Nevertheless, within this lie untapped opportunities. This…

Sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks is a relatively well-established category in Ireland. Rising inflation is a key contributor to value growth in 2023, although volume sales have been pushed into decline. Sweet biscuits is the best…

Sugar confectionery is seeing retail volume sales decline as the war on sugar gains further momentum in Ireland. The pandemic intensified consumer’s focus on health and self-care with a growing awareness of nutrition and the negative health impacts…

Snacks in Ireland has come under pressure from rising prices in 2023. Many consumers perceive the higher prices as a deterrent and are switching to cheaper snacking options or reducing their snacking to some extent. Additionally, the increased prices…

In 2023, the savoury snack category in Ireland was characterized by a strong emphasis on taste and quality. Consumers prioritise these factors above all else when choosing their savoury snacks, leading to an increase in the variety of flavours…

Increasing numbers of ice cream producers are focusing on nostalgia to attract consumers who want something more than a novel flavour. The Fruit-tella ice cream is the first of its kind in the UK and combines three popular flavours into one product.…

Gum retail volume sales are stagnating in 2023 as the cost of living mitigates consumption slightly. Chewing gum is largely an impulse purchase, which make up two-thirds of gum purchases. Many consumers are therefore buying it on a whim rather than…

In 2023, chocolate confectionery in Ireland is driven by a strong consumer desire for indulgence and celebration. Chocolate is not merely a sweet treat, but a symbol of joy and festivity, making it a preferred choice for marking special occasions.…

Sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks is set to post positive current retail value growth in 2023, thanks to the popularity of convenient snacking options, either at home or on-the-go. This is also being further boosted by the return to…