Asia Pacific

The removal of mask-wearing and social distancing measures in March 2023 led to rising demand for cough, cold and allergy remedies as respiratory infections increased. Since February 2020, local seasonal influenza in Hong Kong has remained at a low…

Dermatologicals in Hong Kong saw continued positive growth in 2023. Steady growth in antifungals was driven by medicated shampoos, vaginal antifungals and other dermatologicals such as topical allergy remedies/antihistamines, with hair loss…

2023 saw increased interest in women’s health and beauty supplements in Hong Kong as pandemic restrictions were removed, with more opportunities for consumers to go out and socialise. Female consumers are increasingly attracted to supplements with…

With traveling restrictions and social distancing measures fully lifted, residents in Hong Kong were gradually resuming their normal social lives in 2023. This resulted in an increase dining out and social gatherings, with people now able to meet up…

In Hong Kong, the increased frequency and time spent using 3C products, (in particular, computers, smartphones and tablets) among people of all generations has led to a growing need for effective eye care solutions. As individuals spend more time…

Consumers in Hong Kong have been increasingly gravitating towards herbal/traditional products for both OTC and vitamins and dietary supplements, as a result of greater demand for natural alternatives and more consumers taking greater control of their…

The smoking population in Hong Kong has been steadily declining thanks to the strong smoking cessation campaigns implemented by the government over the past decades. Through education and banning the sale of e-cigarettes in 2022, the government has…

In 2022, Thailand’s packaging industry was seeing significant activity in terms of the adoption of sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions. Mirroring global trends, heightened awareness of environmental issues among consumers and regulatory…

Paediatric cough, cold and allergy remedies in Hong Kong saw strong rises in the wake of lifted social restrictions in 2023. The mandatory mask-wearing policy, which had been in place to mitigate the spread of respiratory illnesses, was removed and…

The importance of mental health continues to command attention, with sleep being recognised as a crucial factor for maintaining overall wellbeing. The demand for products that address mental health concerns has surged in Hong Kong prompting…

In 2023, sports nutrition in Hong Kong continued to record robust volume growth as local consumers maintained the exercising habits they acquired during the pandemic when spending time in lockdowns. Local consumers are increasingly interested in…

The significant increase in vitamins sales in Hong Kong in 2023 can be attributed to several factors. There has been a growing emphasis among local consumers on taking preventive measures to enhance their overall health and wellbeing. This trend has…

There has been an increase in the number of Korean weight management brands entering the Hong Kong market. For example, Glam.D launched the cookie & cream flavour Light Meal Shake, tailored to suit the preferences of Hong Kong consumers. Korean…

Lifted restrictions in post-pandemic Hong Kong meant increased outdoor and travel activities led to a higher demand for wound care products in 2022, particularly sticking plasters/adhesive bandages for emergency use. With the resurgence of outdoor…

In May 2023, the Japanese government downgraded the legal status of COVID-19 to class 5, which led to a rebound in footfall for consumer foodservice. Consumers returned to going out, and enjoyed dining out. In particular, bars/pubs, which suffered…

In 2023, Japan relaxed its COVID-19 rules, which boosted the travel industry. These changes altered how people, both local and foreign visitors, viewed and approached travel, which aided recovery. In terms of local travel, COVID-19 became less of a…

Consumer foodservice continued to see strong recovery in Japan in 2023, posting double-digit growth in current value sales in line with the recovery of flows of consumers after the downgrading of the status of COVID-19. On 8 May 2023, the Japanese…

After COVID-19 was downgraded to class 5 in May 2023, consumers felt more comfortable eating out. This contributed to a sales rebound for full-service restaurants, but challenges remained. Costs continued to rise, and players continued to find it…

Limited-service restaurants continued to see a positive current value performance in 2023, mainly driven by unit price increases. Although some companies had already implemented price increases in 2022, it became inevitable that they would raise…

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 were left to individuals and…

Street stalls/kiosks continued to see an increase in current value sales in 2023, thanks to the rising popularity of food trucks. Even during the pandemic, food trucks were less negatively impacted thanks to their mobility, which allowed them to…

In 2022, retail volume sales of air treatment products in India, especially cooling products such as air conditioners and air coolers, recorded double-digit growth, due to factors such as pent-up demand, harsh summer conditions and greater consumer…

The leading player in apparel and footwear specialists, Fast Retailing, has been focusing on experiences in its stores. Having both an offline and online presence, the retailer aims to differentiate its physical stores by providing customers with…

Yodobashi partnered with Fortress Investment Group in the acquisition of the department store brands Seibu and Sogo from Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd, and is hoping to establish a new store in Ikebukuro. Ikebukuro is one of the largest towns in Japan,…

Specialist coffee and tea shops is a mature category in South Korea, but continued to show dynamic growth in 2023. Previously, players in specialist coffee shops changed high unit prices, but advances in coffee machines led to standardisation of…

After a year of healthy growth in 2022, the demand for consumer appliances in India notably slowed in 2023, hindered by inflationary pressures and a cost-of-living crisis. This was one of the key themes that plagued the industry during the year.…

In 2023, the significant growth in sales of drive-through outlets was noteworthy. This method of fulfilment showed a triple-digit growth rate during COVID-19 in 2020, and still sustained double-digit current value growth in 2023. From a corporate…

Despite optimistic expectations of rapid recovery in consumer consumption following the COVID-19 pandemic, transaction growth in overall consumer foodservice in South Korea experienced a slowdown in 2023, exacerbated by prolonged inflation. The…

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. This shift pushed consumers in Japan to go back to their pre-COVID-19 behaviours,…

Direct selling continues to face headwinds due to the ageing of the customer base, and the loss of recruitment opportunities due to changes in social behaviour since the pandemic. On the other hand, some players saw rising sales in 2023, as society…

During the pandemic, dishwashers experienced a surge in sales as consumers were confined to their homes and therefore sought appliances that would help simplify household chores while they tried to balance work and childcare responsibilities.…

Food preparation appliances witnessed flat growth in 2023 due to slow demand as consumers diverted their share of wallet from durables and appliances to essential products. The cost-of-living crisis and inflation resulted in consumers pushing back…

Traditional buffet-style family restaurants faced significant losses during COVID-19, due to concerns about close contact with many people. In particular, chained Korean buffet brands such as Season’s Table, which were popular amongst…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…