Eastern Europe

The market for spirits in Poland has reached saturation point though it continues to evolve, adapting to emerging trends. In 2022, vodka, the largest product area, saw a decrease in off-trade volume sales but current value growth owing to inflation…

Total volume growth in spirits remains positive in 2022 as the category continued to recover from the pandemic. Moreover, the double-digit inflation that led to increased prices across many other consumer goods categories was less visible within…

Sales of spirits declined in off-trade and on-trade volume terms in 2022. The category experienced a strong rebound in demand in 2021 boosted by the easing of restrictions and consumers returning to on-trade outlets. However, with life in Lithuania…

2022 was a good year for the spirits category in Latvia following the relaxation of pandemic restrictions, with horeca establishments able to work at full capacity from March 2022. As a result, spirits sales grew significantly in the on- and…

Growth in total volume sales of spirits in 2022 was well down from 2021, with demand slowing sharply at the off- and on-trade levels. Because these products are comparatively expensive, the category was particularly exposed to more cautious attitudes…

The recovery of tourism flows in Georgia in 2022 boosted the demand for spirits. On-trade volume sales continued to grow to almost reach the 2019 pre-pandemic level by the end of the review period. In 2022, local consumers spent more time outside…

In terms of single categories, tequila (and mezcal) registered the fastest total volume growth in 2022. This performance can be explained by several factors: increased awareness of tequila (and mezcal); greater availability on retail shelves; and…

Spirits recorded another year of growth in 2022 thanks to rising demand for quality spirits in the country. The low unit price increase of spirits also attracted increasingly price-sensitive consumers with reduced disposable incomes as a result of…

In 2022, both off- and on-trade sales of spirits in Bulgaria increased. Current value growth by far exceeded volume growth due to a huge rise in average unit prices. Despite this, the premiumisation trend continued as Bulgarians increasingly favour…

Retail volume growth of spirits remained strong in 2022, as consumer demand continued to bounce back in the on-trade following the steep declines caused by closures during the pandemic. Nevertheless, rising inflation has impacted spirits resulting in…

RTDs saw a return to growth in total volume terms in 2022. This growth was driven by innovations and new product launches in the market alongside the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the return to more active social lives, with socialising being…

Spirit-based RTDs is the fastest growing subcategory, registering double-digit sales increases in volume and value terms. New product development is noticeable in spirit-based RTDs, with companies like Dana doo expanding outside its core business of…

In Slovakia, the rising inflation and production costs have led to an increase in retail unit prices for RTDs, which had a negative impact on demand in 2022. Despite the weaker economic power of Slovak consumers, both volume and value sales of RTDs…

As seen across alcoholic drinks in Serbia, the growth of RTDs was driven by a further recovery in on-trade volume sales in 2022. With COVID-19 fears subsiding and restrictions lifted consumers spent more time outside the home socialising and going to…

RTDs in Romania experienced marginal volume growth in the off-trade sector in 2022, primarily driven by an expanding portfolio of available brands and varieties. These brands fall predominantly under the umbrella of established spirits brands that…

2022 off-trade volume sales of RTDs in Poland persisted in their decline. However, it is noteworthy that the rate of descent was more moderate compared to the previous year. This is likely attributed to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the…

Growing consumer demand for convenient RTDs contributed to the category’s ongoing post-pandemic recovery in 2022, with sales significantly surpassing 2019 pre-COVID levels. Younger consumers in particular increasingly opt for drinks with lower…

RTDs saw heavy losses in total volume terms in 2022. In Lithuania, unlike in neighbouring Latvia, the category has a poor reputation with many consumers avoiding RTDs due to the perceived high sugar level in these drinks. Concerns over rising obesity…

RTDs have a strong presence in Latvia, where the category is well developed compared to the neighbouring Lithuanian market. With an array of brands vying for share, this is a saturated category where local manufacturers have carved out strong…

RTDs experienced a particularly steep slowdown in total volume sales growth in 2022. The category was more exposed than most as rapidly rising inflation led Hungarians to exercise greater caution in their spending decisions, as these products are…