Eastern Europe

The challenging economic situation in the Czech Republic led to weaker demand for spirits in both the off-trade and on-trade in 2023. Czech households came under more intense financial pressure due to prevailing high inflation, with the price of…

In 2023, wine in Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced a notable slowdown in consumer demand, although it remained comparatively stronger when compared to beer consumption trends. This shift in consumer preferences hinted at a gradual transition towards…

Wine in Bulgaria continued to enjoy buoyant retail volume growth, underpinned by the recovery of on-trade sales following the pandemic. However, wine consumption through the on-trade still remained below 2019 levels as inflationary conditions and…

Total volume sales of wine fell slightly in Hungary in 2023. However, during the year, sparkling wine volume sales continued to grow, finally exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Sparkling wine consumption, traditionally reserved for celebrations and…

Wine saw strong growth in current value terms in 2023 but this was the result of price hikes rather than an increase in demand with sales declining in total volume terms as financial pressures led to consumers adopting a more cautious approach to…

Wine in the Czech Republic faced declining volume sales in 2023 as economic conditions worsened. The high cost-of-living drove consumers to cut back on purchases within the wine category. Current value growth was buoyed by increased prices due to…

In 2023, the impact of immigrants from Russia on alcoholic drink sales in Georgia was negligible, resulting in a more subdued sales growth compared to the previous year. Despite this, moderate inflation and a stable exchange rate contributed to the…

In 2023, the volume sales of beer in Georgia continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace compared to previous years. This growth, although more stable, was underpinned by both an increase in domestic production and a rise in imports. The Horeca…

In 2023, the influx of immigrants from Russia did not significantly impact vodka sales in Georgia, resulting in a subdued growth compared to the previous year. Consumption of spirits remained relatively constant, with distinct preferences observed…

Throughout 2023, wine in Georgia witnessed a gradual recovery following the disruptions caused by the pandemic. Production of Georgian wine experienced growth, reaffirming its status as the most consumed alcoholic beverage in the country. However, a…

Despite strong growth in unit prices, alcoholic drinks marked positive volume growth in 2023. It is clear that Croatians are tired of social distancing and need to vent out. With COVID-19 measures all but gone, the number of events spanning across…

In 2023, sales of alcoholic drinks in Estonia experienced a pause following the hectic pandemic and post-pandemic periods. The local economy's underperformance added pressure on consumption. However, cross-border trade with Finland and Latvia…

Alcoholic drinks witnessed steeper volume sales decline in 2023 as the high costs of living in Romania encouraged consumers to make cutbacks on these beverages. The price of food continued to rise in line with the stubbornly high inflation rate,…

In 2023, beer sales in Croatia saw a marginal increase in total volume sales, primarily attributed to the positive impact of tourism on on-trade consumption. However, off-trade sales, largely reliant on local residents, experienced a decline due to…

The year 2023 was neither the best nor the worst year for beer sales in Estonia. Following the post-pandemic recovery in 2022, 2023 saw a reconsideration of consumer purchasing habits, especially in the face of economic slowdown. Consumers were more…

Beer in Romania suffered further volume sales decline due to lower purchasing power. Inflation remained stubbornly high with increasing manufacturing costs driving up average prices of beer. The adverse weather during the all-important summer months…

In 2023, cider and perry in Croatia continued their upward trajectory, surpassing 2019 volume sales in both the off-trade and on-trade channels. This resurgence was primarily driven by the return of open-air socialising, concerts, festivals, and…

2023 saw a decline in cider/perry sales in Estonia. Although cider remains a popular beverage in foodservice during the summer, economic uncertainty in 2023 caused sales to suffer. Sweet options like Fizz and Kiss lost ground as consumers became more…

Cider/perry in Romania has equally felt the impact of price increases and the high cost of living in 2023, as in other categories. However, volume growth rose slightly in the off-trade and on-trade, reflecting the increasing number of consumers loyal…

In 2023, spirits-based RTDs continued to dominate the Croatian market, bolstered by the popularity of well-known spirit brands that serve as the main ingredients for many of these RTDs. Notable brands include Smirnoff, Absolut vodka, Bacardi and…