Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products in Slovakia

PROSPECTS

More consumers are going on-trade for their yoghurt fix, though high-fat versions will plump up sales

Yoghurt sales did not achieve growth in retail volume terms for a third year in a row in 2019 and while they are predicted to return to growth over the forecast period, a dynamic performance is not anticipated. The dip in yoghurt’s retail popularity has to an extent been caused by rising sales to foodservice outlets, with consumers in Slovakia continuing to eat out more often and eat yoghurt in on-trade establishments.

Increasingly knowledgeable consumers opt for lactose-free and sour milk offerings

Sour milk products saw growing popularity and strong innovation in 2018 and 2019, especially within drinking sour milk products. For instance, Moravia by Moravia Lacto with its flavoured buttermilk product assortment was introduced.

Organic and fortified products also tick consumers’ health boxes

In yoghurt, premiumisation and overall quality perception was a main trend in Slovakia in 2019. Healthier product options such as preservative-free brands gained in popularity amid rising nutritional-awareness, with sales of organic products growing.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Convenient on-the-go pack formats can create new consumption occasions

Danone Danio introduced flavoured curd in pouch format within drinking yoghurt and flavoured yoghurt in 2019. The launch was accompanied with a television campaign although other means of promotion were not visible at the time.

Competition heats up with various yoghurt types gaining a foothold

In March 2019, Milsy registered a new product, Milsy Banovecky Smotanovy Jogurt bez Eciek (preservative-free flavoured yoghurt), which is likely to be launched officially in the second half of 2019. It is anticipated that the new yoghurt will help develop the premiumisation trend and offer consumers quality and diversity, competing with for example skyr products (thick yoghurt originating in Iceland), which were successful at the end of the review period.

Local yoghurts feature prominently, though Czech imports benefit from good recognition too

Yoghurt products sourced domestically from local dairies dominated sales in 2019, with brands such as Rajo, Zvolensky, Tami and Sabi among the best-selling. In addition to this, private label products performed well, while imported products achieved modest gains, particularly those from brands sourced from the Czech Republic, such as Milko (by Polabske Mlekarny as).

Files are delivered directly into your account within a few minutes of purchase.