Bulgaria

The majority of categories in other pet food are set to develop positively in 2024, especially in value as opposed to volume terms due to their price retention at a relatively high level. Category growth will be based mainly on increasing knowledge…

In Bulgaria's other hot drinks category, chocolate-based flavoured powder drinks maintains the largest volume share despite facing several challenges. These challenges include declining birth rates and a growing consumer preference for low-sugar…

In 2023, chilled dairy desserts and chilled snacks started to see consumption recover after the previous year’s decline, whilst other categories remain in decline. Current value growth was driven by further inflation and price growth, especially at…

Due to the influence of social media, the popularity of teeth whitening at home is gathering pace in Bulgaria and this is contributing to the positive development of oral care in Bulgaria. The desire for a youthful, confident smile fuelled the demand…

The pervasive smoking habits in Bulgaria exert a considerable negative effect on the sales of NRT smoking cessation aids. Bulgaria has one of the highest smoking rates in the European Union, with a significant portion of the population addicted to…

Retail volume sales of nappies/diapers/paints in Bulgaria continued to fall in 2023, in line with the ongoing decline in the country’s birth rate which is reducing the overall consumer base. Indeed, the very low numbers of babies being born Bulgaria…

In 2023, menstrual care in Bulgaria witnessed steady retail volume growth despite the continued unit price increases in the category. Price inflation was most notable at the beginning of the year when inflation was still at its peak from 2022.…

Men’s grooming in Bulgaria is evolving due to changing attitudes towards self-care with men investing in their personal appearance. In 2023, men’s grooming witnessed robust growth in current value terms driven mainly by unit price increases, while…

The Bulgarian market for meals and soups in 2023 remained nearly stagnant, with a slight negative trend, primarily driven by the increased frequency of dining out. The categories most affected by this shift were shelf-stable ready meals and dried…

Mass beauty and personal care in Bulgaria registered a positive performance in 2023. Whilst price increases fuelled some of this growth, the increased demand for more affordable products was also a factor as inflation remained stubbornly high. This…

Lodging suffered significantly during the pandemic with the number of room nights booked and value sales dropping dramatically. Nonetheless, most lodging establishments and hotels managed to endure the crisis although many have been financially…

With no pandemic-related movement and travel restrictions mandated by the government, foodservice continues to recover in 2023. Limited-services restaurants, in particular, are recording strong value growth as a result of strong and renewed consumer…

While retail value sales were positive in 2023, these results were heavily driven by increased unit prices. As such, retail volume sales struggled, negatively impacted by rising inflation and reduced consumer spending power. This led to a retail…

100% juice is posting stable growth in Bulgaria in 2023, maintaining popularity due to its perceived freshness, nutritional value and alignment with health and wellness trends. Despite this, its growth potential is somewhat hampered by ongoing…

With high inflation still driving up production costs and unit prices, ice cream in Bulgaria is set to register faster growth in retail current value sales than retail volume sales in 2023. Demand has remained fairly robust despite falling purchasing…

After discounters, hypermarkets were the best performing grocery channel in Bulgaria in 2023 in terms of value growth. With inflation still high, hypermarkets registered a small increase in constant value sales. Recent opening of new outlets also…

The hot drinks market in Bulgaria in 2023 is significantly influenced by the cost-of-living crisis. With an inflation rate among the highest in the EU, Bulgarian consumers are experiencing squeezed disposable incomes and escalating grocery product…

Home products specialists in Bulgaria registered current value growth in 2023, though constant value sales fell. Inflation was still an issue and impacted profitability. That being said, it was homewares and home furnishing stores that dragged down…

Home insecticides in Bulgaria declined in retail volume sales in 2023, impacted by the fall in the property market. Moreover, people in the cities increasingly use the services of insect control companies, which provide an easy, quick, effective and…

Retail value growth was positive for home care in Bulgaria in 2023, supported by rising price points and ongoing inflation. As such, while retail value sales rose, retail volume was challenged, with declining disposable budgets impacting consumers…

In Bulgaria, younger consumers are increasingly turning to herbal/traditional products as a natural and holistic alternative to conventional medications. These consumers are at the forefront of the shift towards a more preventive and holistic…

Despite continuing high inflation, performance for health and beauty specialists in Bulgaria was stable, with constant value sales rising slightly. There was also further opening of outlets. Value sales through pharmacies continued to account for…

In 2023, styling agents, conditioners and hair loss treatments recorded the strongest current value growth rates in Bulgaria’s hair care category, followed closely by standard shampoos. The emerging trend of ‘in-depth hair care’, along with so-called…

Growth in retail volume sales of gum in Bulgaria in 2023 looks set to surpass that recorded in 2022, with chewing gum and bubble gum both projected to register improved results in this respect. This is mainly explained by the fact that consumption is…

Muted performance for general merchandise in 2023

In 2023, full-service restaurants continue to recover from the devastating losses registered during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the strong double-digit value growth is largely the result of rising unit prices and inflation. For a growing number…

Fragrances in Bulgaria was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and whilst sales have begun to bounce back, overall volume and value sales have yet to be restored to 2019 levels. The lifting of all pandemic restrictions during 2022 resulted in…

The maturity of the market in Bulgaria implies that most potential customers are already using or have easy access to eye care products, reaching a saturation point in terms of penetration. This situation can lead to intensified competition among…

Energy drinks benefits from constant innovation and improved distribution. Producers are challenging traditional perceptions of energy drinks by introducing sugar-free variants and incorporating healthier ingredients like fruit juice, green tea or…

The consumption of edible oils in Bulgaria is experiencing a decline in 2023, primarily attributable to a significant drop in olive oil sales. This decline is a consequence of turbulent climate conditions in Spain and Italy, which have had a profound…

In 2023, drinking milk products continued to witness negative volume growth, due in part to reduced time spent at home cooking and a falling population. On the other hand, drinking milk products saw positive growth in current value terms, as…

Value sales of dog food in Bulgaria are set to experience moderate growth in 2024. Much of this growth will be based on the further penetration of prepared food due to pet owners' higher awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of industrial…

Many areas in dishwashing developed positively in 2023, with value growth driven by rising inflation and increased price points. Retail volume growth was positive in automatic dishwashing liquid and tablets, driven by the growing need for convenience…

Discounters in Bulgaria were the best performing grocery retailers in 2023. With inflation still being high, consumers were price sensitive and prioritised value for money. As such, discounters registered a moderate increase in constant value sales.…

Direct selling registered a fall in current value sales in Bulgaria in 2023. Both high inflation and a shift away from direct selling to e-commerce led to a drop in sales, as e-commerce also provides the convenience of direct delivery. In fact,…

Marketers are increasingly focusing on educating consumers about digestive health, utilising both traditional and digital platforms. Given the sensitive nature of digestive health issues, campaigns are designed to be empathetic and non-intrusive.…

Probiotics, known for their positive impact on digestive health and overall wellbeing, have gained significant traction among health conscious consumers. The growing awareness of probiotics as a preventive measure against common digestive issues,…

The sedentary lifestyles that are prevalent in Bulgaria significantly impact the market for dermatological products. A lack of physical activity often goes hand in hand with prolonged periods of sitting indoors, which can lead to reduced exposure to…

In 2023, depilatories in Bulgaria witnessed steady growth in current value terms, driven mainly by unit price growth. Retail volume growth also remained steady even though some consumers made cutbacks to expenditure. An increasing number of girls are…

The slowdown in production of aluminium across Europe, due to higher energy prices caused by the war in Ukraine, has led to a shortage of aluminium for producing deodorant cans and antiperspirants. As a result, some deodorant manufacturers increased…

The dairy and alternatives category in Bulgaria has been severely impacted by high inflation rates against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the country’s political crisis. Dairy prices increased enormously in 2022 and continued to grow slightly…

Price sensitivity among Bulgarian consumers is a key factor influencing their purchasing decisions when it comes to cough, cold, and allergy (hay fever) remedies. As the minimum wage in Bulgaria is just under EUR400 in 2023, a significant portion of…

Most product areas within cooking ingredients and meals maintained positive value, despite a decline in volume. This decline can be attributed to the significant inflation experienced in the previous year, the resulting growth in retail prices, and…

2023 was not a good year for convenience retailers in Bulgaria. With inflation still being high, consumers cut back on spending in convenience retailers, as prices tend to be higher than in other grocery retailers. In addition, there is a degree of…

In 2023, the consumer health market in Bulgaria is set to see steady current value growth, with sales set to continue to fall at constant 2023 prices, though at a slower rate than in the previous year in both cases. Consumer preferences are shifting…

Most consumer foodservice categories in Bulgaria have either recovered or are nearing full recovery in 2023. With no movement or travel restrictions, despite new COVID-19 variants, the market could continue to develop uninterrupted in the year. The…

Driven by rising unit prices and strong inflationary pressure, consumer foodservice continued to record double-digit value growth in 2023. The performance varied depending on the location; however, all categories managed to grow at a similar rate and…

In Bulgaria, liquid concentrates have emerged as a cost-effective option for soft drink preparation amid tightened household budgets. This shift towards more affordable alternatives has temporarily slowed the category's decline. However, concentrates…

Due to the relatively high inflation in Bulgaria, mass colour cosmetics continued to grow at a faster pace than premium colour cosmetics in 2023. As the cost of living in Bulgaria remained quite high, people preferred to shop for more affordable…

Instant coffee in Bulgaria is experiencing a phase of stagnation, primarily due to the outdated perception of instant coffee compared to more modern alternatives like capsule coffee and bean-grinding machines. The demographic of instant coffee users…