Western Europe

Lingering inflationary pressures continued in sweet spreads in Austria in 2023, resulting in stronger value growth supported by high prices, while volume sales just about managed to remain positive. Indeed, as sweet spreads are perceived as less…

Sales in sauces, dips and condiments maintained demand in Austria in 2023, resulting in positive value growth underlined by still-high prices, alongside smaller volume growth due to the baseline demand. These factors are being driven by…

Meals and soups saw strong value growth in Austria in 2023, driven by inflationary pressures leading to high unit prices, while volume sales are also bouncing back into stronger positive growth. That said, challenges remain, as while inflationary…

Sales in edible oils continued to stabilise in 2023 in Austria, following the era of price hikes and supply disruptions. That said, the return to foodservice does somewhat place downwards pressure on potential sales, when compared to the era of home…

Sales in cooking ingredients and meals continued to stabilise in Austria in 2023. This is thanks to inflation starting to slow down, thus resulting in more stable food prices. For example, we can note this in edible oils, which was a category…

Health concerns are exerting a significant influence on demand for sweet spreads in Germany as consumers increasingly seek options that align with their wellbeing goals. This shift is characterised by demand for healthier ingredients, reduced sugar…

Unilever, the leading player in sauces, dips and condiments in Germany for years, remained at the top for 2023. Its extensive assortment, including the popular Knorr brand of sauces, makes it a permanent presence in different outlets and various…

Demand for frozen ready meals in Germany continued to grow in 2023, as consumers increasingly searched for convenient meal solutions that catered for busy lifestyles. As German consumers juggled work, family and social commitments, there was a…

In 2023, inflation still had a notable impact on edible oils in Germany, leading to elevated prices and changes in consumer behaviour. Factors such as rising labour costs, fuel prices and agricultural inputs contributed to higher production expenses…

While 2023 might have appeared to be a stable year for cooking ingredients and meals in Germany after the pandemic years and rise of inflation, the industry experienced an interesting evolution. Shaped by a variety of factors that reflected both…

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…

After the pandemic resulted in a spike in demand for retail sales of cooking ingredients and meals in Western Europe in 2020, the volume performance was hit by high inflation in 2022 and 2023. This has been favouring growing shares for discounters…

Nuts and seed-based spreads are much loved by Greek consumers who try to follow a healthy lifestyle, as these spreads have a very high nutritional value. People include these spreads on their breakfast or as ingredients to make healthy recipes, such…

The high cost of living remains an issue for Greeks in 2023, with many consumers being forced to restrict purchases to just the bare essentials. Retail volume sales of sauces, dips and condiments category remain dampened by this trend, although there…

Players are capitalising on the particularly strong demand for healthy ready meals as these combine the desire for a nutritious meal with convenience and consumers’ now entrenched habit of consuming ready meals whilst at work. At the end of 2022, new…

Olive oil is generally the preference of Greek consumers as they consider it more nutritious and healthier than vegetable and seed oils. Following the negative impact of inflationary pressures in 2022, the Greek olive oil industry has experienced new…

Cooking ingredients and meals continues to battle with high prices in 2023, which are impacting consumer’s buying habits, although inflation is lower than in the previous year. Amid this improved economic climate, retail volume sales have made a…

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…

Honey and nut and seed based spreads were the best performing categories of sweet spreads in Turkey in 2023 and this can be attributed largely to the healthy profile that each of these categories has. This has ensured that both nut and seed based…

Spreads in the Netherlands are experiencing healthy sales growth driven by a combination of factors in 2023. The expansion in population and price increases due to inflation are contributing to the organic growth in sales. Notably, the sweet spreads…