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…

In 2023, sweet spreads showed positive performance. However, this category faces two main threats. Firstly, Swiss consumers are increasingly forgoing breakfast or opting for on-the-go breakfast formats, impacting the traditional use of honey, jams,…

Sweet spreads registered static retail volume growth in 2023 as the category continued to experience a rebalancing of growth rates after the rollercoaster ride that volume sales were on earlier in the review period. Specifically, demand for sweet…

Companies are increasingly incorporating sustainability and food waste reduction into their strategies. In the jams and preserves category, a common practice is using misshapen fruit to minimise fruit waste. The utilisation of fruit peel, considered…

Overall, sales of sweet spreads have continued to decline in retail volume terms in 2023 with this being linked to various factors including the drop in disposable income, elevated inflation, consumers having less time for breakfast and concerns over…

Chocolate spreads is expected to see stagnant retail volume growth, and the slowest retail current value sales growth in sweet spreads over 2023. Retail current value growth is set to be in high single-digits mainly due to higher prices. This…

Sweet spreads continued to see normalisation in consumption patterns in 2023, following the plummeting of sales through foodservice at the height of the COVID-19 crisis and the move to retail due to pandemic related restrictions and consumer concerns…

Sweet spreads is seeing falling volume sales in 2023 though the category is rising significantly in terms of value sales. With the ongoing return to pre-pandemic lifestyles, Danes are spending less time at home and thus their need for stables such as…

Sweet spreads’ performance in 2023 was static in volume terms, as contrasting factors were at play. On the one hand, pressure on purchasing power and disposable incomes forced consumers to reduce out-of-home spending, especially when it came to…

Sauces, dips and condiments recorded merely modest retail volume growth in Turkey during 2023 as the substantial pressure that has come on consumer spending power as a result of the highly adverse social economic situation in the country forced many…

Manufacturers in the food category continue to grapple with escalating production and distribution costs, coupled with increased sector loans, mirroring the challenges faced in 2022. These factors continue to exert upward pressure on final consumer…

In 2023, sauces, dips, and condiments demonstrated robust performance, largely owing to the increasing demand for convenience in using prepared sauces instead of making them from scratch. Consumers turn to these products to effortlessly enhance the…

Demand for sauces, dips and condiments fell over the course of 2023, the second consecutive year of retail volume sales declines in the category. The main reason for the lacklustre performance seen in the category during the year is the return to…

Cost reduction takes centre stage as a primary focus for companies. With significant cost increases, businesses are actively working to enhance their production processes, lower expenses related to raw materials and packaging materials, all with the…

Cooking at home became more popular over the lockdown period, with some people using the time stuck at home to learn to cook, or to develop their cooking skills. This resulted in soaring sales of sauces, dips and condiments in 2020. Since the end of…

In 2023, one key trend in sauces, dips and condiments in Ireland was the increased emphasis on marketing and advertising to stimulate consumption. This trend was particularly evident in the success story of Mutti, a local player in pasta sauces.…

The unit prices of sauces, dips and condiments soared as production costs went up in the context of a generally very high rate of inflation. Otherwise, the consumption of sauces, dips and condiments still saw normalisation following the shift from…

In 2023 sauces, dips and condiments is seeing normalisation in sales following the boom experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the rising convenience trend and less time spent preparing home cooked meals, cooking at home still remains…

Retail volume sales of sauces, dips and condiments were static in 2023, following a slight decline in the previous year. Value sales rose in 2023 due to increases in unit price, although current value growth was not as high as in 2022. Due to…

Ready meals recorded an excellent sales performance in 2023 as demand continued to increase substantially. While all categories of ready meals registered strong positive retail volume sales growth, shelf stable ready meals and chilled ready meals…

Soup is poised for healthy growth in 2023, defying traditional associations with cold weather consumption. Dutch consumers of all age groups continue to embrace soup as a favourite meal option. Valued for its nutritional benefits and perceived as a…

In 2023, meals and soups maintained its robust performance. This can be attributed to the establishment of hybrid work formats, such as the prevalence of working from home for two days a week, resulting in increased home-cooked meals. Convenience and…

Significant numbers of Swedish consumers continue to reach for ready meals when they need a convenient option for a quick meal or snack during their busy daily schedules. As the pace of life in Swedish cities continues to accelerate, busy urban…

Noodles and pasta pots are experiencing positive growth thanks to their convenience and budget-friendly prices. Affordable ready meals, like these, have witnessed a surge in consumption, leading retailers to expand shelf space and introduce new…

Sales of meals and soups have seen steady growth in retail volume terms in 2023 while value growth has been boosted by price rises. With consumers leading busier lives they are finding themselves with less time to prepare meals from scratch while…

During 2023, ready meals in Ireland experienced a surge, stimulated by innovative product offerings. Among these, The Gym Kitchen's Beef Lasagne and Tesco's Beautifully Balanced Chicken & Sweet Potato Katsu Curry stood out for their unique selling…

The ready meals category in Finland is continuing to shake off the stigma of being unhealthy and a bad dietary choice. In fact, ready meals is doing very well in the market and seeing regular product launches and improved recipes, as more Finnish…

Variety and freshness are proving key in the further development of ready meals. Efficient supply chains that promote freshness as well as greater attention to ingredients are enabling more appetising ready meal products. Flash freezing and day fresh…

In 2022, the full return to out-of-home activities (including work and social occasions) strongly benefitted ready meals, a category that had suffered in the previous year. Indeed, despite price increases, the relevance of busy lifestyles and the…

2023 saw edible oils register steady and stable volume growth as population growth underpinned rising demand, with olive oil recording a particularly positive performance as consumers became more interested in the health and wellness properties of…

As seen in most cooking ingredients and meals, edible oils are experiencing a rapid surge in consumer prices. This surge is primarily driven by increased costs in distribution, energy, and commodities. Retailers and manufacturers already witnessed…