Fresh Food

Global consumers are struggling with the cost of living crisis, as inflation remains high while household income growth lags. Consumers are adopting recessionary habits, such as trading down and being more selective in their spending. Rather than…

Consumers are facing increased pressure from rising prices as global inflation reaches 7% in 2023. The impact of higher costs of living is felt from top earners in developed markets to struggling households in emerging and developing countries.…

In the upcoming years, consumers and businesses face an array of challenges, with income inequality, mass migration and rising uncertainty about another crisis being among the major ones. Nevertheless, within this lie untapped opportunities. This…

In the upcoming years, consumers and businesses face an array of challenges, with rising income inequality being among the key ones. Nevertheless, addressing the income inequality through catering to the Bottom of the Pyramid and the Middle Class…

Volume sales in eggs continue to be relatively stable, despite production having been significantly affected by the avian flu outbreak in France, with around 9.5% of the laying flock of hens affected by the epidemic since its start in 2021 –…

In 2023, as food prices remained high, some consumers in Germany turned to eggs as a cheap alternative to meat due to their perception as a healthy food choice. Therefore, despite a marginal retail volume decline in 2023, demand for eggs remained…

In the eggs category, 2022 was marked by a significant increase in production costs. This increase was mainly attributable to the rise in energy costs, production factors, and especially the surge in feed prices due to the outbreak of the war in…

Despite ongoing price growth in the first half of 2023 sales of eggs saw a return to growth in retail volume terms after recording a decline in sales in the previous two years. Although higher prices adversely affected consumers, producers were able…

Eggs in the UK continue to be impacted by rising unit prices, driven by escalating production costs and supply challenges that are notably affecting consumption levels. Egg producers are already contending with narrow profit margins, and the soaring…

Sales of fish and seafood have fallen into the expected volume declines in 2023, due to high price rises alongside an ongoing drop in demand. The category is strongly supported by foodservice and institutional volumes, with the concept of fish on…

The increasing awareness of sustainability issues and environmental concerns associated with fish and seafood production have contributed to the decline in the consumption of these fresh foods in Germany. Health considerations have also played a…

In 2023, the consumption of fresh fish continued to grow in terms of volume. There are several reasons behind this trend. Prominent amongst these is the health and wellness trend, with more and more people becoming aware of the beneficial effects of…

The retail consumption of fish and seafood continued to decline in 2023, albeit at a slightly slower pace than in the previous two years. This decline was primarily due to reduced purchasing power leading to an increased focus on essential goods and…

Fish and seafood is traditionally considered one of the more expensive protein options in the UK, and this perception is taking a toll on volume sales. As the cost-of-living crisis persists, local consumers are seeking ways to stretch their budgets,…

Climate factors are influencing fresh food in France in 2023. After the significant heatwave in the summer of 2022, 2023 saw more rain with some hot spells and droughts in certain areas, which affected crops in the agricultural regions in different…

As the effects of the pandemic gradually waned and had little impact on consumers and their purchasing patterns in 2023, inflation and price increases took the lead as the main socioeconomic factors shaping demand for fresh food in Germany. Despite…

After the negative events that characterised 2022, including the war following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and high rates of inflation, retail volume sales of fresh food started to grow again in Italy in 2023. Italian consumers continued to…

Spain saw a return to relative normality in 2023 with the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the health crisis to be over. All COVID-19 related restrictions had been lifted by July 2023 which helped to boost consumer confidence and resulted in…

2023 has presented considerable challenges and complexities for fresh food in the UK. Families are increasingly turning away from traditional staples such as fresh meat, fresh fruits, and vegetables due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. This…

Sales in fruits are seeing a mixed performance, as the category finds a balance between value and volume – lower unit prices support volume growth, whereas inflationary pressures mean higher value but lower volume consumption, especially regarding…

While not dramatically, retail volume sales of fruits in Germany declined in 2023. Economic factors such as rising prices and inflation are likely to have contributed to the decline; higher food costs and reduced purchasing power among consumers…

In 2023, fruit growers faced numerous challenges related to climate change. For example, severe flooding affected many growing areas in regions in the central north such as Emilia-Romagna, which lost a large part of its cherry crops. This situation…

Inflation had a significant impact on consumer spending behaviour in 2022 as the cost of living rose sharply which led to a notable decline in sales of fruits in retail volume terms, with the category continuing to record a small decline in sales in…

Fruits in the UK are experiencing persistently high input costs, impacting their overall consumption. Despite the recommendations for higher fruit consumption, local consumers are struggling to meet these targets. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. In 2023, global inflation is expected to ease from its peak in 2022, but remaining significantly above-trend. Geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market are…

The report examines inflation level and drivers globally and in the key countries. Global inflation is forecast to accelerate due to higher energy and commodity prices, disruptions in supply chains and weaker business confidence. Impact varies…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

The global wheat market in 2023 has seen a recovery in supply, following tight global supply and skyrocketing wheat prices in 2022 resulting from the onset of the war in Ukraine. Increased wheat exports from Russia, readjustments of supply chains and…

The global outlook has improved as of Q1 2021, thanks to vaccination progress in many developed countries. Nevertheless, the recovery prospects remain distant for most economies in the face of the spread of new, more infectious variants of the virus.…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession in nearly a century. Businesses are operating in a world of anxieties and uncertainties, not knowing what will be the new normal or when output and consumer spending…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession since World War II. In Q4 2020, the end of the pandemic started as countries began administering effective vaccines among the population; however, vaccine distribution…

Meat is seeing more positive volume growth in 2023, compared to 2022, despite the category experiencing some of the steepest price rises overall. That said, cheaper meats, such as pork, have compensated somewhat for the declines seen in more…

Retail demand for meat in Germany experienced another decline in 2023, influenced by several factors that reshaped dietary habits and consumer preferences, such as concerns about the health impacts associated with meat consumption, sustainability and…

In recent years, the meat category in Italy has been going through an uncertain phase, especially regarding supply. Several factors, such as high breeding costs and feed shortages, are negatively affecting the development of the meat category.…

The volume of poultry and pork being consumed at home saw a small rebound in 2023 after a substantial decline in sales in 2021 and 2022, although sales remain below pre-pandemic levels. This growth was primarily driven by consumers shifting away from…

Meat in the UK continues to see persistent inflationary pressures stemming from higher production costs, particularly in the areas of animal feed and energy. This has spilled down to consumers in the form of increased unit prices, combined with a…

Private label – retailers’ alternatives to brands – tend to benefit from inflation. However, despite record inflation in France, Germany and the UK, the market share of private label in the three countries remained broadly stable across FMCGs in…

Sales in nuts manage to remain in positive volume figures, with growth stronger in foodservice and institutional volume than seen in retail volume. This is because consumers have returned to out-of-home lifestyles following the era of the pandemic…

Nuts in Germany, usually seen as a healthy and appetising snack, became increasingly expensive in 2023 because of rising inflation. This has impacted consumers’ food choices and how they spend their money. Since nuts are often considered a treat,…

Like all other fresh food categories, the nuts category has been greatly affected by problems related to the entire production chain. General increases in production and transportation costs, including the significant increase in shipping costs, have…

Nuts saw strong growth in current retail value terms in 2023 although this was primarily due to the ongoing impact of inflation. Nonetheless, the category also saw a return to growth in retail volume terms after recording declines in the previous two…

Most fresh food categories were negatively impacted by extreme weather conditions in the UK and other countries over 2022 and 2023, which fluctuated between extreme heat and droughts and very wet climates. However, this was not the case for nuts, as…

The performance of pulses tends to vary depending on economic factors. For example, tinned and canned pulses are perceived as offering better value-for-money as they require less cooking time and are more convenience, whilst fresh pulses need more…

In 2023, peas generally remained popular in Germany because they are deemed easy to use, have a mild taste, and are budget-friendly, which matters when prices are rising. Germans tend to eat peas in salads during the summer and in soups and stews in…

After a 2022 marked by a drop in consumption in retail volume terms, the pulses category returned to growth in Italy during 2023. This positive signal involved both the production and consumption of pulses in the country. On the production side,…

Sales of pulses experienced positive growth across all channels as consumers prioritised affordability. After a decline in retail volume terms in 2022 due to a general increase in food prices, the category saw a partial recovery in 2023. It is…

In 2023, retail demand for pulses in the UK continues to grow. As meat, fish and other animal proteins are increasing in price due to inflation and the rising cost of living, local consumers are looking for cheaper sources of protein, and one of…

The hot summer of 2022 led to a drop in the French potato harvest for the 2022/2023 season, with a decline in the yields from French growers. Whilst imports made up the shortfall in demand, the situation meant that prices have risen significantly in…