Eastern Europe

Skin care in Hungary is witnessing a notable transition from age-related specifications to problem-focused solutions, addressing issues like acne, redness, hyperpigmentation, dark spots, uneven skin tone, and atopy. With an increasing number of…

In 2023, skin care in Latvia witnessed slower growth compared to 2022 rates but still made good progress. Skin care is one of the few categories where consumers are willing to pay extra for higher quality products or a reputable brand. Still, the…

In 2023, skin care in Lithuanian recorded standout retail value growth, while retail volume growth was positive in all areas, bar mass skin care sets/kits. While mass skin care offerings continued to record the strongest sales, there was a visible…

Despite continuing high inflation, and also a falling population, skin care in North Macedonia registered some volume growth in 2023. It was also the best performing beauty and personal care product in terms of current value growth. Premium skin care…

Skin care in Poland flourished throughout the review period, seemingly unaffected by the impact of the pandemic and prevailing economic challenges, and retail volume and current value growth continued in 2023, with increases in sales across all…

Skin care was one of the most dynamic categories within beauty and personal care in 2023, experiencing robust growth in both retail volume and current value terms. Romanian consumers are increasingly interested in the regular use of skin care…

Skin care in Serbia continued to experience both volume and value growth in 2023, attributed to the introduction of new products, increasing consumer awareness, and the influence of social media. Leading players consistently innovate and enhance…

Skin care in Slovakia recorded healthy retail value growth in 2023, partly driven by price increases linked to rising costs and stronger consumer demand. Facial care registered very positive results with strong influence over category growth since it…

Skin care retained its status as one of the best performing categories in the Slovenian beauty and personal care industry during 2023. The category’s strong performance during the year was mainly the result of more regular use of skin care products…

Skin care registered significant current value growth in the Czech Republic in 2023. Demand for SPF creams is a dominant trend in skin care. The demand for day creams with SPF continued to rise strongly at the end of the review period. Czech…

The development of the skin care category in Ukraine continues to be driven by the active innovation being seen from manufacturers of these products. For example, in 2023, Weleda revamped its skin care line. This update was characterised by a new…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Retail volume sales declined in 2023 due to the rising cost of living and inflation, with many consumers cutting down on purchases of products they felt were unessential, such as small cooking appliances. As such, instead of purchasing new small…

In general terms, small cooking appliances are seeing steady growth trend in retail volume terms, with demand underpinned by the elevated interest in cooking a home that has been seen among the population of Poland since the onset of the COVID-19…

Small cooking appliances are benefitting from the factors which are also stimulating sales in food preparation appliances. Consumers are placing a key focus on healthy diets and lifestyles, thus seek kitchen appliances which help them in this area.…

Retail volume and value sales of small cooking appliances declined in 2023. As in other categories of consumer appliances, the COVID-19 pandemic drove forward purchases of small cooking appliances impacted by periods of home seclusion. Moving into…

Inflation was still an issue in 2023 for small local grocers in Bulgaria, though growth eased. As such, though current value sales rose, constant value sales fell, as continuing rising costs cut profit margins. There was also minimal openings of new…

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…

In 2023, small local grocers recorded low growth in retail value sales. Double-digit inflation has changed the shopping habits of Poles. Consumers purchase less, save money, buy cheaper alternatives or limit their consumption. In 2023, sales of beer…

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…

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…

Small local grocers in the Czech Republic have struggled to adapt in an environment of high inflation, which has weakened the Czech economy since 2022 and created a cost of living crisis for Czech households. Indeed, some outlets were forced to cease…

Small local grocers was the only grocery retailers channel in Ukraine to contract in current value terms in 2023. While trade picked up from 2022 as the initial shock of the Russian invasion receded, it continued to lose ground to modern formats such…

Smokeless tobacco, heated tobacco and e-vapour products in Bulgaria posted dynamic growth despite rising unit prices across all categories. The growing popularity of such products has led to higher excise duty on e-liquids and nicotine free liquids,…

E-vapour products and heated tobacco products were the two most dynamic areas of tobacco in Slovenia in 2023. Increasing awareness about the harmful impact of smoking cigarettes and tobacco has resulted in some consumers switching to alternatives…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in Croatia performed well overall in 2023, although chewing tobacco and moist snuff remained negligible. Both e-vapour products and heated tobacco are on an upward retail volume sales…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in Estonia performed well in retail volume sales terms in 2023. E-vapour products and heated tobacco are emerging as the major competitors to regular combustible cigarettes. These product types…

In 2023, e-vapour products in Lithuania continued to show strong growth. A significant number of consumers are shifting from regular cigarettes to alternatives perceived as less harmful, particularly single-use vaping devices and heated tobacco.…

In 2023, retail value sales of e-vapour products and heated tobacco recorded double-digit growth in Bosnia Herzegovina. While the smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption, including illicit trade, continue to decline in the country, two other…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products, and heated tobacco in Latvia continued its upward trajectory in 2023, primarily driven by the increasing popularity of heated tobacco and single-use vaping systems. While this growth trend has been consistent…

Both e-vapour and heated tobacco registered healthy volume growth in 2023. That being said, sales were still low. In particular in terms of e-vapour, there is concern that vaping is as harmful as cigarette smoking. In April 2023, the government…

New regulations were introduced for e-vapour products in Serbia in 2023. Amendments to the Tobacco Law, effective from November 2023, established a new category for electronic cigarettes and associated products, regardless of their nicotine content.…

E-vapour products saw a fall in sales in current value terms in Ukraine in 2023, while heated tobacco products saw growth in both current value and volume terms. E-vapour products experienced a significant change in market conditions in Ukraine…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in Slovakia saw double-digit rises in volume and current value sales growth in 2023. In February 2023, tobacco products were subject excise taxes increase, though retailers of e-vapour products…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in Hungary in 2023 expanded in terms of volume and current value sales. By autumn 2023, all major international tobacco manufacturers had entered the heated tobacco market, with Japan…

Heated tobacco products continued to report dynamic growth in both value and volume terms in 2023. One important reason for the dynamic performance of the category is the local production of heated tobacco and the fact that these products are…

Heated tobacco products was by far the most dynamic of the main categories within smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in North Macedonia in retail volume growth terms in 2023. While this was partly because sales are still emerging…

Closed system single use e-cigarettes turned out to be a big winner in 2023 with the category recording dynamic growth for the second year running. These products are perceived as the easiest e-vapour product for new vapers to approach and use. The…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in the Czech Republic continued to develop at the end of the review period. As heated tobacco products are viewed by some as the “future of smoking”, it is essential for the major players to…

Snacks continues its strong recovery in 2023, thanks to a period of stable consumer demand in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the post-pandemic period. Despite the rising costs of living, snacks have remained a popular option on the household shopping…

Retail volume sales growth for snacks in Bulgaria in 2023 is expected to be down slightly from 2022. The same is true of growth in retail current value sales, though most categories look set to record stronger performances in this regard than in…

Overall, 2023 is expected to be a positive year for snacks, with further current value and volume growth, supported by a post-pandemic return of foreign tourists in large numbers and an increase in impulse buying and on-the-go consumption. However,…

Snacks is expected to register healthy volume and more moderate constant value growth in 2023, despite continuing economic uncertainty as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the meteoric rise in inflation and tightening monetary policy. In…

Snacks in Georgia is facing ongoing challenges in 2023 caused by external influences, including the war in Ukraine, higher production costs and rising inflation. Multiple categories have seen rising unit prices, with manufacturers leveraging…

Retail volume sales of snacks in Hungary saw a fairly flat performance in 2023. While growth was buoyant in current value terms, this was due to massive inflationary pressures, rather than any real upturn in demand. With Hungary having been added to…