Estonia

RTD coffee is regarded as offering a convenient alternative to energy drinks for consumers who tend to perceive coffee as a healthier option. The convenience trend in Estonia is leading to a growing number of busy local consumers looking for…

Growth in direct selling current value sales in 2022 was up significantly on 2021. While this was partly because spiralling inflation caused unit prices to rise, the improvement was primarily explained by reduced concern about community transmission…

While grocery retailers in Estonia showed a markedly improved performance in terms of overall current value sales growth in 2022, this was mainly due to soaring inflation fuelled by the global recovery from the pandemic and the fallout of Russia’s…

Despite steep price hikes resulting from the dramatic and prolonged spike in inflation, overall current value sales growth for non-grocery retailers in Estonia in 2022 was only slightly stronger than that recorded in 2021. Demand in all channels was…

Growth in total e-commerce current value sales in 2022 was down markedly on 2021, and also much lower than the CAGR for the entire review period. This was partly explained by the normalisation of trade, in that after having received a significant…

Retail in Estonia saw total current value sales grow at a double-digit rate for a second consecutive year in 2022. However, growth was only marginally faster than in 2021 despite steep increases in unit prices for all kinds of goods amidst a surge in…

Chocolate confectionery is expected to be the best performing snack in 2023, with healthy constant value and volume growth. Per capita consumption is on the rise, largely fuelled by a growing appetite for dark chocolate, which is seen as healthier.…

While gum is expected to register an increase in current value sales, constant value sales are expected to fall, due to high inflation. Volume growth is also expected to be marginal. Gum is gradually losing popularity and it increasingly gets bad…

Ice cream is expected to register moderate volume growth, though constant value sales are expected to be unchanged, as continuing high inflation cuts into profitability. With inflation still being high, consumers look for value for money and Unilever…

While savoury snacks is expected to register an increase in current value sales, constant value sales are expected to fall, due to high inflation. Volume growth is also expected to be muted. Savoury snacks with a healthier positioning are expected to…

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…

While sugar confectionery is expected to register an increase in current value sales, constant value sales are expected to fall, due to high inflation. Volume growth is also expected to be muted. In terms of value growth, mints are expected to be the…

Sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks are expected to register muted constant value growth, as inflation still remains high, as well as muted volume growth. This sector was particularly affected by the rising price of wheat, with Ukraine…

Sales of analgesics return to their pre-pandemic performance in 2023. After the pandemic, seasonal colds and flus circulated more in the country as consumers socialised more without wearing masks, and sales of analgesics have returned to their usual…

Many OTC categories in Estonia, including cough and cold, experienced strong decline during COVID-19; however, sales are returning to their pre-pandemic performance in 2023 as viral illness are circulating more following the lifting of pandemic…

Whilst the category continues to record growth in 2023, the particularly high growth level seen in the previous year could not be maintained. 2022 was a strong year for the category as consumers returned to their pre-pandemic lifestyles following the…

Sales of dermatologicals have benefited from the return to normal activities following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions. Consumers are out in public again and socialising and are consequently looking to treat any conditions to ensure thy…

Post-pandemic habits are driving the growth of dietary supplements in 2023. During COVID-19, sales of dietary supplements increased in Estonia, with consumers seeking products to aid immunity and remain healthy, and sales continue to be supported by…

Digestive remedies is one of the smaller OTC categories in Estonia, encouraging less demand than vitamins and dietary supplements and analgesics, which most consumers use during periods of seasonal flu and colds. However, during 2022, the category is…

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…

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…

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…

Vitamins recorded strong double-digit growth during the pandemic as consumers purchased products to strengthen their immunity and boost their general health. However, with restrictions lifted and consumers resuming their usual daily activities,…

Weight management products continue to have a low consumer base in Estonia. For many consumers, these products are not top of mind or the first choice for tackling weight loss. Still, category growth was registered as some consumers use these…

2023 is another year of the wound care category returning to its pre-pandemic sales level. Consumers have resumed their usual active lifestyles following the outbreak of COVID-19. Both adults and children have returned to sports, hiking and other…

Baby food is expected to register a fall in constant value sales, but volume growth will be moderate. Consumers are expected to be highly price sensitive and prioritise value for money, with a degree of trading down as inflation still bites, though…

Butter and spreads is expected to register muted constant value and volume growth in 2023. Economic uncertainty as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the meteoric rise in inflation and tightening monetary policy continue to have an effect,…

Cheese is expected to register muted constant value growth, but healthy volume growth in 2023. A significant number of newly-arrived migrants from Ukraine, escaping from the war, is also expected to increase volume sales. However, inflation is…

Dairy products and alternatives 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…

Drinking milk is expected to register healthy current value and volume growth in 2023. A significant number of newly-arrived migrants from Ukraine, escaping from the war, is also expected to increase volume sales. However, inflation is expected to…

Other dairy continues to be a sizeable product area, largely supported by the popularity of cream and fromage frais and quark. In 2023, it is expected to register minimal constant value growth and moderate volume growth. In 2023, chilled desserts is…

While sales are still relatively low, there is an appetite for plant-based dairy and it is expected to register very healthy current value and volume growth in 2023. Value sales are largely driven by younger consumers, who consider plant-based…

Yoghurt and sour milk products is expected to register muted constant value growth, but healthy volume growth in 2023. A significant number of newly-arrived migrants from Ukraine, escaping from the war, is also expected to increase volume sales.…

Although Estonia enjoys substantial economic freedom and tackles corruption effectively, state finances are deteriorating but remain sustainable. The economy is experiencing recession and stagflation, whilst its highly open nature creates risks for…

Cooking ingredients and meals continued to expand in both volume and value terms in Estonia in 2023. This is attributable to the popularity of food and cooking blogs that promote products, Estonians spending less time on cooking, and a greater focus…

Olive oil recorded the fastest value and volume growth in 2023 as more Estonians adopt a healthy diet. Consumers have become more mindful of the food and ingredients they consume, leading many to opt for healthier edible oils such as olive oil.…

Chilled ready meals demonstrated the highest volume and value growth in 2023. These products became popular in Estonia following the lifting of pandemic quarantine restrictions and the return to work, with consumers opting for chilled ready meals as…

Soy sauces recorded the fastest growth in both volume and value terms in 2023 thanks to the rising popularity of Japanese cuisine and Estonians cooking Asian dishes at home with soy sauce. In addition, soy sauces are increasingly being used to…

Nut and seed based spreads demonstrated the fastest volume growth in 2023 thanks to the growing number of vegetarians who rely on nuts and seeds as a key source of protein and nutrition. In addition, the category is still in its early stages of…

In 2023, frozen cakes, sweet pies and tarts demonstrated the fastest current value growth in baked goods. Demand for these types of frozen baked goods is growing alongside the faster pace of life in Estonian society, although it remains a niche at…

Hot cereals witnessed the fastest growth in retail volume and current value terms in 2023. Consumers consider hot cereals to be healthier and more nourishing than RTE cereals, as they contain beneficial vitamins. With the adoption of healthier eating…

Shelf stable fruit and vegetables is enjoying strong growth volume growth in 2023, as Estonians spend less time canning fruit and vegetables at home. Shelf stable tomatoes is witnessing the highest demand, since these are more frequently used in…

Chilled processed poultry is witnessing robust volume growth in 2023 due to changing consumer behaviour as inflation remains high. As household budgets are squeezed, Estonians are actively seeking out chilled processed poultry as it is a cheaper…

Chilled pasta is the fastest growing category in 2023, in volume and value terms. Consumers are drawn by the favourable ratio of price and cooking time, as chilled pasta only needs to be heated for a few minutes. This pasta option is popular among…

In 2023, demand for staple foods has recovered slightly after several years of decline. Retail volume sales was under pressure for much of the review period, due to surging production costs and rising inflation, which forced prices up. Although…

Functional bottled water registered by far the highest retail volume growth in 2023. A still small sales base and increasing demand drove the performance of functional bottled water at the end of the review period, while leaving room for further…

Reduced sugar cola carbonates demonstrated the fastest retail volume growth in 2023. As more consumers become health-conscious and aware of the potential negative effects of excessive sugar consumption, there is a growing demand for healthier…

The powder format continued to register the fastest off-trade volume and current value growth in concentrates in 2023. The popularity of powder concentrates stems from their cost-effectiveness, portability, ease of preparation and long shelf life.…

In 2023, energy drinks saw strong increases in on- and off-trade volume and current value growth. In the retail channel, double-digit volume growth was tied to the robustness of remote work set-ups, which could blur the line between work and personal…

Juice is increasingly seen as an unhealthy, sugary drink by consumers in Estonia. During the review period the category was impacted negatively as more and more consumers became aware of the high sugar content in packaged juice products. This trend…