Eastern Europe

Health and beauty specialists were the best performing retail channel in Slovakia in 2023 in terms of value growth. There was also a significant increase in outlet openings. However, it was a mixed bag. While pharmacies registered a healthy increase…

Home products specialists faced inflationary challenges in Hungary in 2023, with the double-digit inflation hikes continuing (and even increasing from) the previous year. Moreso, Hungary is reported to be experiencing one of the highest sets of hikes…

Home product specialists were the worst performing retail channel in Slovakia in 2023. With inflation still high, consumers put off home renovation projects and also cut down on spend on homewares and home furnishings. As such, home products register…

Hypermarkets saw shrinking value sales in Hungary in 2023, compared to the double-digit growth rates seen the previous year. This is attributed to competition from other channels, such as discounters (eg Lidl and Aldi) which offer an increasingly…

Hypermarkets were the best performing grocery channel in Slovakia in 2023 in terms of value growth. Recent openings of new outlets boosted value sales, including the new Kaufland Bratislava outlet discussed below. However, with inflation still high,…

Retail e-commerce was a fragmented category in Hungary in 2023, with the leading brand being Media Markt (Media Markt Retail Cooperation Kft), followed by eMAG Marketing (Extreme Digital - Emag Kft). However, Media Markt is the only name holding a…

Retail e-commerce registered a modest increase in current value sales in Slovakia. However, with appliances and electronics continuing to be the most popular products sold online, and with weak consumer sentiment leading consumers to postpone larger…

Retail in Hungary continued to be influenced by inflationary factors in 2023, with the double-digit hikes continuing (and even increasing from) the previous year. Moreso, Hungary is reported to be experiencing one of the highest sets of hikes across…

It was a poor trading year for retail in Slovakia in 2023. With inflation still being high, as well increasing interest rates leading to higher mortgage payments, consumers felt the pinch. As such, there was only marginal growth in current value…

Small local grocers saw robust value sales in Hungary in 2023, driven by the rise of urbanisation, busy consumer lifestyles, and the convenience which small local grocers offer due to their proximity benefits. Whilst small local grocers have also…

2023 was not a good year for small local grocers in Slovakia. With inflation still being high, consumers cut back on spending in such outlets, as prices tend to be higher than in other larger grocery retailers. As such, both constant and current…

Supermarkets saw a decline in value sales in Hungary in 2023, following the positive performance seen in 2022 as the channel benefitted from the normalisation patterns following the era of the pandemic. In 2023, however, the channel is being affected…

Supermarkets in Slovakia lost out to discounters in 2023, as continuing high inflation saw consumers increasingly shop in discounters. Consumers also sought out discounts in supermarkets as they were highly price sensitive. As such, supermarket…

Sales in vending were being supported in Hungary in 2023, due to the number of vending machines increasing. Vending is seen as a beneficial model for retail, as it does not require a cashier to serve the customers, thus cuts down on labour and…

Vending was one of the better performing retail channels in Slovakia in 2023, with current value sales increasing. Convenience and on-the-go consumption drove consumer demand. While hot drinks continued to be the most popular product sold through…

Apparel and footwear specialists in Romania recorded strong, double-digit retail value growth in 2023. This positive performance is partly driven by consumers returning to physical stores, after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in March 2022. The…

Following strong growth during COVID-19, in 2023, appliances and electronics specialists in Romania registered a downward trend. For larger appliances, sales were sustained in 2023 as consumers applied for vouchers through a scrappage scheme, driving…

The high growth for convenience retailers in 2023 in Romania, was driven by rising interest in proximity shopping. Price growth over the level of inflation limited consumers' purchases to basic food items. Reduction of purchasing power due to…

The decline of direct selling in 2023 in Romania was a continuation of the results noted in 2022. Much of this decline was due to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, which began in March 2022, and resulted in a strong uplift of consumers in…

Strong, double-digit retail value growth for discounters in Romania in 2023 resulted from heightened footfall driven by rising inflation. As bills rose, consumers were forced to reevaluate their spending habits, including migrating to other channels…

In 2023, general merchandise stores in Romania were represented in totality by variety stores. However, variety stores is an underdeveloped retail channel, which remains unfamiliar to most local consumers. Variety stores have never really developed…

Within health and beauty specialist retailers in Romania in 2023, chemists/pharmacies held the most significant retail value sales by far. These outlets have the largest number of stores, with a strong sales position that continued to be in place…

In 2023, home product specialists in Romania showcased positive growth driven by home improvement and gardening stores. Consumers in Romania have showcased a rising interest in DIY and gardening, which began during home seclusion and the outbreak of…

In 2023, hypermarkets in Romania continued to see retail value growth; however, footfall declined. The social function of hypermarkets before COVID-19 was a place for shopping and entertainment. This has diminished significantly since 2021, with the…

After several years of accelerated evolution, 2023 was a challenging year for e-commerce in Romania.

Grocery retailers dominate sales in 2023

The performance of small local grocers in Romania in 2023, was negatively impacted by the declining number of outlets across the nation. In addition, the elimination of all COVID-19 restrictions in 2022 propelled travelling and bolstered spending in…

In 2023, supermarkets in Romania recorded double-digit retail value growth; the result of having excellent locations in crowded neighbourhoods. As such, these stores increasingly benefit from proximity while offering a broader range of products…

In 2023, vending in Romania showcased positive retail value growth, benefiting from the elimination of COVID-19 restrictions in March 2022. This led consumers to return to office work, with free movement outside of the home, enabling the recovery of…

AFH tissue and hygiene in Bulgaria continued to steadily recover from the harsh impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions in hotels and restaurants, which is the biggest AFH channel, hindered sales in 2020 as many establishments were…

Despite strong rising prices, all away-from-home tissue categories in Croatia recorded growth in 2023 due to a remarkable tourist season. Despite inflation and general economic insecurities, inbound tourists have bounced back in the post-pandemic era…

Away-from-home tissue and hygiene in Estonia recorded double-digit growth in 2023. This strong value increase was largely due to price increases as inflationary pressures continued to be felt in the country. Away-from-home toilet paper experienced…

The surge in sales of away-from-home tissue and hygiene products in 2023 was primarily fuelled by the revival of tourism in Georgia. As international travel resumed, the demand for tissue products in hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality…

In 2023, a full return to pre-pandemic levels of activity outside the home and rising inflation saw away-from-home tissue record double-digit growth in current value terms.

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.…

In 2023, the increase in value in menstrual care in Croatia can be primarily attributed to increased prices for raw materials and escalating production expenses. Manufacturers and distributors in Croatia, who were already experiencing margin…

In 2023, retail sales of menstrual care products in Estonia recorded double-digit growth, though this strong value increase was largely driven by price increases as inflationary pressures continued to be felt in the country. Slim/thin/ultra-thin…

In 2023, retail sales of menstrual care products in Georgia recorded substantial value growth. This value increase was largely driven by price increases, however, as volume growth was more muted. Inflationary pressures continued to be felt in the…

With women spending more time on activities such as visiting fitness centres and travelling in the wake of the pandemic, there was greater demand for a range of menstrual care products, especially higher-value products, in 2023, which led to an…

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 line with rising price points, nappies/diapers/pants in Croatia recorded positive double-digit current retail value growth in 2023. Value sales also benefited from wealthier consumers increasingly demanding eco-friendly and higher-quality…

Nappies/diapers/pants experienced a decline in volume sales in 2023, primarily attributed to the decreasing birth rate in the country. With fewer births, there is reduced demand for baby care products, including nappies, diapers, and pants. Economic…

The sales of nappies, diapers, and pants in Georgia are strongly influenced by birth rates. Over the review period, there was a significant decrease in the birth rate in the country, and this trend continued into 2023. Consequently, while the volume…

Nappies/diapers/pants continue to be negatively impacted by declining birth rates in the Czech Republic in 2023 which led to a decline in volume sales. Disposable pants, however, benefitted from having a natural composition and low environmental…

Retail adult incontinence in Bulgaria continued to witness robust growth in 2023, both in retail volume and current value terms, supported by the ageing population and growing urological problems. Rising demand was due mainly to an expansion of the…

An ageing population continued to support retail sales of adult incontinence products in Croatia in 2023. Rising product awareness and increasing availability in Croatian retailers further contributed to a positive performance. In addition, the…

The surge in volume growth for light adult incontinence products in 2023 reflects an increasing trend towards proactive health management among consumers in Estonia. With a growing emphasis on personal wellness, individuals are seeking solutions that…

Retail adult incontinence continued to exhibit stable volume sales growth in Georgia in 2023. However, the absence of prescription or reimbursement schemes for adult incontinence products remains a challenge. Consequently, consumers must either…

Consumer demand for retail adult incontinence and consumption habits is ongoing, which led to growth in volume sales in the country in 2023. This was due mainly to the ageing Czech population, with an increase in the demographic aged 65 and over, the…

Volume sales of retail tissue in Bulgaria declined in 2023 due to weaker demand for napkins, boxed facial tissues and toilet paper, although for differing reasons. Napkins are not only considered less essential, but consumers were put off by price…