Croatia

With high inflation as a result of the war in Ukraine, as well as the aftermath of COVID-19, prices have risen sharply, driving value sales growth in consumer health in Croatia. Volume sales, meanwhile, are beginning to return to their pre-pandemic…

The big story in tourism flows in Croatia in 2023 was the huge rebound seen in inbound arrivals as the return to international travel fuelled a boom in foreign tourism worldwide, with Croatia benefiting from its burgeoning status as a very attractive…

Beer sales have been revived with the recovery of tourism in Croatia. Following two years of pandemic-related restrictions, there were no border restrictions or on-trade measures imposed in 2022. However, while on-trade sales, which are largely…

Constipation remains one of the most common digestive problems amongst Croatians. For those suffering from constipation, laxatives are considered the easy, go-to solution, especially for those with reduced mobility or time constraints. Consumers are…

The COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, and rising cost of living have exacerbated mental health concerns amongst Croatian consumers. As such, they are increasingly seeking dietary supplements and vitamins that boost their mood and reduce the symptoms…

During 2023, strong value growth was recorded in booking in Croatia, with both booking offline and booking online recording robust double-digit growth rates, although somewhat predictably booking online was the big winner during the year. The regular…

Sugar confectionery is expected to register a slight decline in volume sales in 2023. This reflects the fact that local consumers are increasingly shunning sugar confectionery due to its high sugar content and limited nutritional value. The category…

Cider/perry is comparatively new in Croatia, first developing visible share in 2010. The relative immaturity has driven strong growth from a low base over the review period. Off-trade consumption of cider/perry continued to grow in 2022, benefiting…

In light of inflationary pressures, consumers have become increasingly discerning and cost-conscious in 2022. Grocery retailers have navigated this more complex climate by implementing various measures to address changing preferences, such as…

In 2022, with society fully re-opened and consumers keen to make a good appearance and present themselves well, fragrances registered healthy retail volume and current value growth. However, retail volume and current value sales were lower than…

Toilet care was one of the better performers of home care products in 2022, with both current value and healthy volume growth. This was in spite of high inflation, stemming from the war in Ukraine, which has resulted in an energy crisis. One…

The pandemic has encouraged several consumer behaviour changes in terms of the purchasing and consumption of vitamins. Croatians are now taking preventative health more seriously and vitamins and supplements are being taken by those who never…

2023 saw many of Croatia’s lodging operators facing huge pressure on their margins as the impact of high inflation hit their cost structures from two angles. On the one hand, dramatic increases in the cost of fuel and numerous other inputs over the…

Savoury snacks is expected to register current value and volume growth in 2023. However, inflation will dampen volume growth somewhat as the war in Ukraine leads to rising energy and food prices. Players are reacting by offering discounting and price…

In 2022, the tobacco industry experienced a favourable year in terms of legislation, as the excise tax remained unchanged. Additionally, the tourism season performed better than the previous year, which had a positive impact on tobacco products.…

Despite facing economic challenges such as constrained household budgets due to two years of confinement and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the cigarette industry has experienced limited opportunities for sales growth. However, even during bleak…

Direct selling exceeded pre-pandemic sales in 2022 as the channel sought to recover from the severe impact of restrictions on selling door-to-door. However, much of the current value growth in 2022 was driven by higher retail prices as inflation took…

Sun care achieved an exceptional performance in 2022 as the number of foreign visitors in Croatia neared pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Retail volume sales grew moderately in 2022 supported by the full relaxation of travel restrictions. In 2021,…

Similarly, to other beauty and personal care product areas, “clean” and natural ingredients have remained highly sought after by consumers, boosted by the COVID-19 health crisis. Companies have been promoting natural and organic trends, alongside…

Colour cosmetics achieved another solid performance in 2022, posting healthy growth in retail volume sales, whilst current value growth rose sharply as inflation drove up unit prices. Consumer demand continued to rebound as pandemic measures were…