Eastern Europe

Sales in home laundry appliances are facing similar challenges to those seen in other major consumer appliances, as such products are regarded as big investments during a time of economic uncertainty, inflationary pressures, and high energy prices.…

Sales of home laundry appliances continued to slump in 2023, with many consumers having already updated their white goods during the lockdown-inspired home renovations. One of the trends seen during COVID-19 was a demand for quieter washing machines,…

Home products specialists in Bulgaria registered current value growth in 2023, though constant value sales fell. Inflation was still an issue and impacted profitability. That being said, it was homewares and home furnishing stores that dragged down…

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…

Despite substantial price increases amidst soaring inflation, overall current value sales growth for home products specialists in 2023 was slightly weaker than in 2022. Trade in the two largest channels of home improvement and gardening stores and…

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…

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…

After a spike in current value growth in 2022, home products specialists in the Czech Republic saw a noticeable drop in demand for homewares and furniture in 2023. Demand weakened organically following the significant increases seen in 2022, when the…

Home improvement and gardening stores was by far the most dynamic channel within home products specialists in Ukraine in current value growth terms in 2023. This performance reflected an increased need for construction equipment and materials as…

Televisions recorded slight volume growth in 2023, with OLED TVs seeing strong double-digit growth as consumers looked to upgrade their older televisions with screens offering high picture and sound quality, which are light and have more…

The market for LCD TVs has become saturated in recent years with many consumers already owning at least one. In Poland it is common for households to have more than one television, especially among consumers with a lower socioeconomic status.…

Sales of home video declined in 2022 in retail volume terms with this trend continuing into 2023. This is mostly due to increasing pressure on consumers’ disposable income with Romania experiencing elevated rates of inflation which has led to a sharp…

The majority of TVs sold in Czech households have been replaced in recent years partly due to compliance with the new broadcast standard DVB-T2. With the wider offer of video-on-demand services, content in high definition, and the more frequent use…

When adjusted for the effect of inflation, the market for homewares in Poland saw a decline in retail value terms in 2023. Having witnessed a surge in demand during the pandemic, when consumers developed a keen interest in cooking and eating at home,…

Dinnerware and beverageware experienced growth in 2023 in current value terms which was attributed in part to a notable shift among Romanians towards premium products. The shift towards premium products, particularly in categories such as food…

Dinnerware posted dynamic double-digit growth in current value terms in 2023 despite the challenges posed by the ongoing economic situation and price fluctuations. In fact, this strong growth was in part due to the economic uncertainty and challenges…

The popularity of sheer hosiery is decreasing in Hungary and this is a reflection of contemporary fashion trends. Sheer hosiery is generally worn in combination with women’s skirts and women’s dresses, especially shorter dresses and skirts that leave…

Economic dynamics, notably high inflation and escalating living costs have fuelled a greater emphasis among consumers in Poland on price-consciousness. This inclination has driven a significant demand for cost-effective yet high-quality hosiery…

With consumers going out more than before, 2023 brought another year of growth for hosiery. In addition, given that the category is comprised of relatively inexpensive products, inflation was not a big factor for hosiery during the year. The category…

A healthy lifestyle, increased levels of exercise (gym and outdoor) and participation in sports and more time spent outdoors boosted sales of functional and technical hosiery in the Czech Republic in 2023. Functional sheer hosiery that is designed to…

Overall, retail volume sales for hot drinks are expected to fall marginally, due to a slight fall in volume sales for coffee, which is by far the most popular hot drink in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Continuing population decline dampens volume sales, as…

The hot drinks market in Bulgaria in 2023 is significantly influenced by the cost-of-living crisis. With an inflation rate among the highest in the EU, Bulgarian consumers are experiencing squeezed disposable incomes and escalating grocery product…

Overall, retail volume sales for hot drinks are expected to fall marginally, due to a slight fall in volume sales for coffee, which is by far the most popular hot drink in Croatia. The picture is not much better for tea and other hot drinks, with…

Hot drinks in Estonia increased in both value and volume terms in 2023 due to the growing emphasis on healthy living, which has encouraged consumers to opt for beverages that not only satisfy their thirst but also contribute to their overall…

Hot drinks is expected to register moderate constant value growth in 2023, though volume sales are expected to decline, driven by a poor performance in coffee. Continuing economic uncertainty as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and high…

Hot drinks in Hungary experienced stagnant volume growth in 2023 due to unfavourable economic conditions and significant price increases. Consumers responded to these challenges by reducing their consumption of hot drinks or switching to lower-priced…

Retail volume sales of hot drinks in Latvia saw a static performance in 2023, as the high rate of inflation weighed heavily on consumer spending. With consumers forced to spend more on utilities and food, they shifted away from premium brands and…

In 2023, while retail value growth was positive in hot drinks, boosted by high price points, retail volume declined for the third consecutive year. Economic uncertainty continued to shape purchasing decisions, with consumers readjusting their budgets…

Hot drinks achieved minimal retail volume growth and strong retail value growth in 2023 amidst rising unit prices and the broader impact of inflation. The recovery of hot drinks sales through foodservice continued during the year and the channel…

The year 2023 has been characterized by another year of high inflation, with consumers struggling with costs. Despite this, coffee is gaining popularity not only in cafés, but also at home and in the workplace, with a growing interest in speciality…

Rising inflation and the heightened cost of living in Romania in 2023, negatively impacted retail volume sales of basic food and drinks, including hot drinks. Coffee sales were particularly challenged, with negative retail volume sales, as the unit…

In 2023, the consumption of hot drinks in Serbia faced a slowdown due to rising prices and a decline in disposable income. Consumers responded by reducing consumption volumes, shifting towards more affordable brands, opting for private label…

In 2023, hot drinks’ performance was impacted by a number of factors, with divergent or opposing effects on categories. For example, cocoa commodity price hikes created upward pressure on retail unit prices in other hot drinks, driving up value…

Hot drinks in Slovenia enjoyed steady volume growth in 2023, despite the upward pressure on prices as inflation remained above normal levels. Coffee is the not only the largest category in hot drinks, but it is experiencing a surge in popularity in…

Following on from the economic fallout of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, the Czech Republic experienced very high inflation in 2022 and 2023. This worsened the economic situation and caused surges in prices, which hindered demand amid the higher…

Sales of hot drinks were significantly impacted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 with sales plummeting as large numbers of people fled the country in search of safety. With Russia’s war continuing in 2023 the population remained significantly…

Flexible packaging is the favoured choice in hot drinks packaging in Poland, boasting the highest retail unit volume sales, especially in categories like tea and coffee. Among flexible packaging options, flexible plastic is the most popular pack…

Coffee is the most popular hot drink in Romania, with coffee packaging thus dominating overall sales in the hot drinks industry. This results in the dominance of flexible aluminium/plastic, due to the popularity of vacuum-packed coffee bricks. Most…

In 2022, more Polish consumers looked for vegan products within ready meals, and due to rising consumer demand, players expanded their portfolios. For instance, Iglotex expanded its vegan portfolio Proste Historie in the form of frozen vegan ready…

The COVID pandemic underlined the importance of healthier living which positively impacted demand for more natural products. This rising health awareness in the Czech Republic helped boost demand for health and wellness cooking ingredients and meals…

Already, 6% of Poles between the ages of 18 and 65 identify as vegan. The reasons for this choice of diet vary, including health, animal welfare, or as a way to lose weight. Despite being relatively new to the concept of veganism, Poles have shown a…

Plant-based alternatives to cheese, milk and spreads saw major innovation in 2022, which helped propel healthier dairy (and dairy free) products to new heights. For example, Pan Hrasek, a local brand from Emco spol sro, introduced new line of…

Hot drinks preferences amongst Poles have been influenced by new flavours, and the expanding addition of novel, healthy herbs, roots and plants. Increasing numbers of consumers are tending to support more ethical businesses, which has fuelled their…

Hot drinks with natural ingredients and low or no added sugar remained popular in the Czech Republic in 2022. Naturally healthy products like tea saw strong growth thanks to the return of the standard flu season in the autumn and winter months of…

With rising awareness of healthy food, Polish consumers have been gradually turning towards healthy snacks whenever they can, including on-the-go, for school, work, and picnics. Producers of packaged snacks therefore aim to provide consumers with…

Rising health awareness in the Czech Republic continued to positively impact snacking trends in 2022. Natural ingredients, healthy positioning and product fortification remained in demand. These trends were further supported by new product launches,…

As the number of obese and overweight people in Poland has been increasing, NGOs and the Ministry of Health promote increasing physical activity and reducing calorie consumption, especially underlining reducing the consumption of sugary drinks. The…

Health and wellness soft drinks options remained in demand in 2022 in the Czech Republic, with current value growth driven by inflation and product innovation. A gradual shift from retail to on-trade was also visible, as Czech bars and restaurants…

While vegetarian staple foods continued to gain strength in Poland in 2022, they were already treated as basic products by Polish consumers. For this reason, producers have been attempting to raise consumers’ interest with additional features in…

Health and wellness staple foods saw a strong year in terms of value sales growth in 2022, with demand fuelled by a sharp rise in unit prices. Strong sales also came from categories like gluten-free and meat substitutes, as a growing number of Czech…