Asia Pacific

In 2022, due to the resurgence of COVID-19 and the implementation of lockdowns, offline businesses were severely impacted, leading to a significant reduction in traffic and a high-single-digit decline in retail value sales of cafés/bars. Nonetheless,…

Vending machines have a significant presence in Japan, and have been part of the local culture for decades. Vending is a contactless, unmanned, compact, and convenient way of shopping. Although sales declined during the pandemic, a rebound was seen…

While growth for vacuum cleaners increased during the pandemic due to the unavailability of domestic workers, demand for the category slowed considerably in 2023 due to inflationary pressures and the return of hired help. In India, there is a…

In 2023, price rises were seen across various industries in Japan, impacting the cost of living. During COVID-19, consumers’ eating habits shifted more towards cooking and eating at home. Despite the country gradually returning to the pre-COVID-19…

In 2023, tanghulu (sugar-coated fruits on a bamboo skewer) emerged as the most prominent snacking mega-trend in the entire food industry in South Korea. The popularity of tanghulu began with mukbang YouTubers who focused on ASMR content, creating…

Traditionally, Japanese consumers have enjoyed shopping in areas called Shotengai, where many small shops, including small local grocers, are lined up along the streets. Customers visit different specialist shops to buy their vegetables, fish, and…

Following the reopening of schools and offices, many local consumers have been returning to pre-pandemic lifestyles and thus are more pressed for time. With expansion of the employed female population, households are looking for appliances that allow…

In 2022 and 2023, independent self-service cafeterias demonstrated double-digit growth in retail value sales. The primary driver behind this success was the popularity of local Korean cuisine buffets, which provide a rich variety of options, and…

Retail maintained solid current value growth in Japan in 2023, with increases across both offline and e-commerce. In 2023, offline retail regained stronger momentum due to the return of mobility post-COVID-19. On 8 May 2023, the Japanese government…

After e-commerce showed double-digit current value growth during COVID-19 in 2020, growth slowed significantly in 2021, and remained at this lower level in 2022 and 2023, as with the reopening of physical stores post-pandemic, fewer people made the…

Following a year of healthy growth in 2022, the demand for refrigeration appliances slowed in 2023 due to inflationary pressures and unfavourable weather conditions. Sporadic rain during the summer months disrupted sales for cooling products such as…

While the growth rate for the category slowed marginally in 2023, retail volume sales remained robust due to factors such as rising awareness, new product innovation and launches, and greater mobility. A growing emphasis on hygiene, personal…

Microwaves in India continued to experience muted demand in 2023, as consumers restricted their expenditure during a period of economic uncertainty. There were several other factors, such as the return of domestic help, reopening of restaurants,…

In alignment with the trends observed in 2022, the majority of limited-service restaurants (LSRs) witnessed a surge in menu prices during 2023, which was attributed to the repercussions of escalating raw materials costs and labour expenses. In 2023,…

The category of large cooking appliances remained relatively small in 2023 due to cultural differences, wherein most local consumers rely heavily on freestanding appliances, such as freestanding hobs (included in small cooking appliances), as opposed…

Hypermarkets usually sell a wider range of products compared with other types of grocery retailers, such as supermarkets and convenience stores, but may not be as centrally positioned or as favoured for regular visits. Nevertheless, hypermarkets…

Home products specialists saw growth in current value terms in 2023. Increases were seen across all channels, but as in the previous year, growth was driven mainly by homewares and home furnishing stores. The leading player in this channel, Nitori,…

After a year of strong recovery in 2022, the growth of home laundry appliances marginally slowed in 2023, but demand remained robust due to factors such as increasing penetration, a greater need for convenience-driven appliances, access to financing…

On 8 May 2023, the Japanese government announced that it would reclassify COVID-19 as a class 5 infectious disease, which is the same classification as seasonal flu. As a result, decisions regarding infection control are now left to individuals and…

In 2023, department stores benefited from a rebound in the number of tourists visiting Japan and the depreciation of the yen. Although it lagged somewhat behind other countries, Japan finally lifted COVID-19 regulations in 2023. As for the recovery…