Asia Pacific

Current value sales for traditional small grocers in Thailand continued to rise in 2023, though at a significantly slower rate than in 2022, as the trend towards shopping in small stores close to homes continued. Small local grocers also benefit from…

Small local grocers have been finding it increasingly difficult to compete with other retail channels. In 2023 the rapid growth of convenience stores and the persistent rise in e-commerce purchases continued to take their toll on traditional grocery…

Despite a marginal value sales decline in 2023, supermarkets in Singapore remained the most popular format of grocery retailers in the local market, with value sales still remaining higher than pre-pandemic levels, and the number of outlets…

Supermarkets in Taiwan recorded steady value sales growth in 2023, a year marked by digitalisation efforts as well as an expansion in home delivery services. Uni-President officially acquired Carrefour's business in Taiwan on Nov 14, 2022. This…

Current value sales continued to rise for supermarkets in Thailand in 2023, at a rate that was significantly faster than that posted in 2022. Supermarket operators in the country tend to target middle- to upper-income consumers, who are somewhat less…

Supermarkets in Vietnam saw significant growth in 2023, with notable increases in terms of both current value sales and the number of outlets, driven by the aggressive expansion strategies of key players. Local consumers in suburban and rural areas…

The overall tissue and hygiene market showed stronger signs of recovery in 2023. The Hong Kong government began gradually relaxing the COVID-19-related social restrictions in early 2023. By March 2023, Hong Kong had fully reopened, with the lifting…

2023 witnessed the full effect of the removal of pandemic-related restrictions concerning social activity and international travel, with vending in Singapore continuing to record strong growth due to greater mobility. The vending format thrives on…

In Taiwan, traditional vending machines are giving way to smart vending solutions, leveraging advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and big data. These smart machines offer more than just snacks and…

Vending saw current value sales rise in Thailand in 2023. The country has been home to vending machines for over 20 years, but vending has recently gained ground with new brands entering the market and brining in new technology and payment systems.…

Convenience when travelling has become a significant factor in shaping consumer preferences, and one noticeable trend in 2023 was the rising popularity of smaller packaged wipes. These compact and portable wipes have gained popularity among…

After a year of significant decline in 2022 due to pandemic restrictions, in 2023 apparel and footwear specialists continued to see a slight fall in current value sales in China, despite the lifting of restrictions. With the end of the pandemic,…

In 2023, sales of consumer appliances and consumer electronics saw solid growth in China, thanks to the end of the pandemic, and the “Old for new”, and “Subsidies for green and energy-saving household appliances” policies. However, despite this, and…

In the wake of inflationary pressures, there has been a surprising reluctance amongst individuals to engage in activities outside the home, including dining out, which contributed to lower than expected growth in consumer foodservice in 2023. This…

Total volume sales of baked goods are expected to rise in Hong Kong in 2023, driven by foodservice. Since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in late 2022, many consumers in Hong Kong have returned to their normal work-from-office routine. This has…

Breakfast cereals is set to see growth in retail current value terms in Hong Kong in 2023, although retail volume sales are anticipated to remain fairly static. The resumption of office working has been leading to a shift in consumer demand from hot…

Even after seeing strong performances throughout the pandemic years, convenience retailers maintained its growth momentum in current value terms in China in 2023, with growth in outlet numbers also continuing. Even as the pandemic eased, consumers…

Several years of current value decline were seen in direct selling in China during the pandemic, as the direct selling business model relies heavily on hosting meetings or gatherings to introduce products and recruit new sales personnel, which was…

Robust growth momentum was seen for discounters in China in 2023, with increases in both current value terms and in outlet numbers. This was driven by increasing economic uncertainty in the country, which led more Chinese consumers to seek products…

After seeing a notable decline in value sales in 2022 during the waves of COVID-19 across the country, when many consumers lost confidence in spending on non-essential durable goods, general merchandise stores saw a moderate rebound in its sales in…