Eastern Europe

Sports nutrition continued its upward trajectory in 2023, with every type of product seeing enhanced growth in retail volume terms. With the COVID-19 crisis having largely abated, consumers began to pay more attention to their health and wellbeing,…

Sports nutrition is an extremely popular category in 2023, especially sports protein powder and non-protein products. These products are equally used by professional body builders and those who exercise regularly and want to build muscle. As a…

Sports nutrition is gaining ground in 2023, with sales benefiting from lifting all COVID-19 restrictions, seeing consumers returning to an increasingly active lifestyle. In addition, interest in health and sports is continuing to increase and find…

The rising number of usage occasions is driving sales of sports nutrition products in Latvia, with double-digit current value growth reported in 2023. Historically, sports nutrition products were mainly used by professional athletes and bodybuilders,…

Sports nutrition has remained one of the best performing areas of Hungary’s consumer health market in 2023, with strong double-digit growth in total current value sales projected and all categories poised to register impressive results in volume…

Sports nutrition is expected to be the star performer in 2023, with double-digit constant value growth. The consumer base is widening and demand for sports nutrition is now not only confined to body building, but also for sports enthusiasts who…

In 2023, sales of sports nutrition are benefiting from consumers leading increasingly healthy lifestyles and rising nutrition education. In addition, sports nutrition products are now very well perceived as the scepticism among the general public…

Sports nutrition is performing exceptionally well as the gym culture in Croatia is gaining momentum. Despite limited budgets and low income levels in the country, going to the gym and partaking in other sporting activities are becoming an integral…

The sports nutrition category has seen international brands, such as Post Holdings Inc, Optimum Nutrition Inc, and Pure Nutrition Technology, establish strong positions in the Bulgarian market. International brands typically offer a wide range of…

Sports nutrition is performing well in 2023 thanks to renewed consumer demand in the post-pandemic period, which is helping the category to surpass pre-pandemic sales levels. Generally, sports nutrition products are used by both professional athletes…

Historically, herbal/traditional products account for the vast majority of sleep aids sold in the Czech Republic. Indeed, until slightly prior to the beginning of the review period, herbal/traditional products accounted for all retail sales of sleep…

The demand for sleep aids increased during the height of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Heightened stress and anxiety levels increased the numbers of users and fostered greater use of sleep aids amid health, economic and social uncertainty. The…

A study has found that 16% of the Romanian population experience chronic insomnia, while 30% regularly struggle with insomnia. These percentages indicate a significant portion of the population affected by sleep-related issues and this high…

A high proportion of Polish population suffer from sleep disorders, and this problem intensified during the review period. During the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers were forced to deal with high levels of anxiety and stress, which resulted in many…

While sleep aids is poised to record strong growth in current value sales in 2023, this is mainly due to price hikes amidst high inflation fuelled by the global recovery from COVID-19 and the fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. With inflationary…

The demands of busy and stressful lifestyles in Bulgaria have given rise to a significant increase in the demand for sleep aids. As modern life becomes increasingly fast-paced and work-related pressures intensify, many individuals find themselves…

A significant decrease in the birth rate (per ‘000 population) in 2022 is expected to be followed by a marginal drop over 2023. The demand for assisted reproduction increased by around 15% in 2022, compared to the previous year. However, since this…

The preference for herbal/traditional products has grown over the review period, driven by the demand for natural and 'clean' ingredients. This trend is evident in Slovenia across consumer healthcare, including paediatric consumer health, where…

The post-Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic wave of respiratory infections drove dynamic retail volume and current value growth in paediatric cough/cold remedies in 2022. This followed a strong rebound in demand in 2021, which was, in turn, informed by…

The increase in current value sales expected in paediatric consumer health in 2023 is mainly being driven by rising prices. Meanwhile, volume sales are being negatively impacted by consumers becoming more selective about what they buy. Waning…

Paediatric vitamins and dietary supplements remains the largest area of paediatric consumer health. Romanian parents, following the recommendations of family doctors, are understanding the importance of vitamins to their children’s physical and…

The market for paediatric consumer health showed an improved performance in retail volume terms in 2023. While the COVID-19 outbreak temporarily hindered its progression, it showed signs of a revival during the year, as children spent more time…

Paediatric consumer health is achieving strong double-digit value growth in 2023 as a result of consumer demand for high-quality consumer health products positioned for children, coupled with rising unit prices and the impact of inflation. Paediatric…

Despite seeing growth levels less than in 2022, 2023 has been a positive year for paediatric consumer health in Lithuania. In spite of soaring inflation caused by the energy crisis as a result of the war in Ukraine, paediatric consumer health will…

The winter of 2022-2023 was a very strong period for paediatric consumer health in Latvia. Children fully returned to schools and kindergartens and consequently common viruses began to circulate in society, with high levels of minor health issues.…

Most paediatric consumer health categories are expected to contract in volume terms in 2023. This is partly due to persistently high inflation in Hungary, with steep price hikes and falling purchasing power making people more inclined to only…

Vitamins continue to be the most popular product within paediatric consumer health in 2023. However, volume sales for vitamins are expected to fall in 2023 as inflation and economic uncertainty leads to consumers cutting back on non-essential…

Sales of the paediatric consumer health products are seeing solid value growth in 2023, with positive volume growth in most areas, especially paediatric cough, cold and allergy remedies, which are benefiting colds and flus spreading again now that…

The preference for herbal/traditional products has grown in recent years, driven by the rising demand for natural and clean ingredients. This trend is evident across the whole of consumer healthcare, but is particularly prominent in paediatric…

Parental preference for child-specific consumer health products is a progressively growing trend in Bulgaria, reflecting a strong desire for products tailored to the unique needs and sensitivities of children, in contrast to the more traditional…

Paediatric consumer health achieved strong current value growth in 2023, largely in response to rising unit prices and inflation impacting consumer health products in general. Consumer demand for children-specific consumer health products remains…

The cost of smoking increased substantially in the Czech Republic in 2022, compared to 2021. Alongside rising costs of tobacco products and health concerns, more people are looking to quit the habit. As a result, smoking prevalence among the adult…

Although smoking prevalence and the number of smokers in Slovakia have been falling gradually, they are still considered high, compared to other European countries. In December 2022, the Slovak government approved an action plan, with a focus on…

A recent study revealed that Romania has one of the highest rates of smoking in Europe, estimated at around 30%. This high smoking rate has a positive impact on the performance of NRT smoking cessation aids, as a significant number of smokers are…

According to Euromonitor statistics, around 30% of the Polish population smoke tobacco, with a higher proportion of smokers found amongst men. While this represents a significant improvement compared to figures from the 1990s, mortality from diseases…

In keeping with the trend witnessed throughout the review period, total volume sales of NRT smoking cessation aids have continued to contract in 2023, with all categories set to post negative results in this respect. This is partly explained by the…

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…

Having derived benefits from the search for products offering immunity and general health benefits in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, dietary supplements, as a whole, including herbal/traditional offerings, are seeing a slowdown in…

Driven by a stronger consumer emphasis on health and wellbeing, current value sales of herbal/traditional products are experiencing moderate growth in 2023. In Slovenia, there is an emerging preference for herbal/traditional products over standard…

The strong wave of influenza in Q1 2023 and the stronger than anticipated return of common respiratory infections are stimulating the demand for many herbal/traditional products in Slovakia at the end of the review period. Herbal/traditional products…

In 2023, Serbians remain positively disposed towards herbal/traditional products. When it comes to natural medicines and herbal preparations, only 26% of Europeans overall use them in defence against viral infections, but Serbians are significantly…

Herbal/traditional products is benefiting from the broad trend towards products containing natural ingredients that is influencing demand across a wide range of consumer goods categories, including packaged food and soft drinks, as well as consumer…

The market for herb-based remedies and supplements is generally correlative with the broader environment of OTC medicines. For many consumers, the primary focus is on addressing health concerns, with product composition being a secondary…

An improved quality of life, higher living standards, and the health and wellness trend (and its associated link with more natural products) is driving volume sales of herbal/traditional products in 2023. Also, consumers are increasingly prepared to…

Herbal/traditional medicine is generally very popular in the Lithuanian market, covering local and international players. The landscape is a sizeable product area in Lithuania, and in 2023, despite soaring inflation caused by an energy crisis,…

Herbal/traditional products remain very popular in Latvia, where they are usually used for tackling minor illnesses. Indeed, consumers in Latvia are already quite familiar with using herbal/traditional remedies for the treatment and prevention of…

Although overall current value growth for herbal/traditional products in 2023 is set to equal that recorded in 2022, this is mainly due to price hikes amidst soaring inflation in Hungary. With the resultant drop in purchasing power making people much…

Herbal/traditional products is expected to register a fall in volume sales, with constant value sales being unchanged. Inflation and economic uncertainty leads to consumers cutting back on non-essential consumer health products. In addition, as…

Sales of herbal/traditional products are set to record further growth in 2023 as they continue to benefit from the growing trend towards products with natural ingredients, which consumers believe to be just as effective without as many chemical side…

Driven by a greater consumer focus on health and wellness, sales of herbal/traditional products are recording further growth in 2023. There is a growing preference for herbal/traditional over standard products as herbal medicine is deeply rooted in…