Fresh Food

Despite the gradual normalisation following the impacts created by the era of the pandemic, 2023 has ushered in fresh challenges for both consumers and producers, amplifying instability and uncertainty. The persistently high logistics costs…

Inflation has emerged as a significant challenge for Australian consumers and fresh food producers alike, driven by a confluence of factors: the government's pandemic-induced stimulus and supply chain constraints due to border closures, further…

The current economic landscape is witnessing a complex interplay of factors which are reshaping consumer behaviour and challenging the dynamics of the food industry. Inflationary pressures are driving customers to seek savings on their grocery bills,…

Rising input costs encompassing raw materials, labour, and transportation have spurred producers to transfer these expenses onto consumers, resulting in a noticeable surge in retail prices for fresh fruits across 2022 and 2023. The consecutive waves…

Throughout 2023, the Australian fresh food sector encountered considerable challenges amidst the prevailing cost-of-living crisis, significantly impacting consumer behaviour and the broader food industry dynamics. A complex interplay of economic…

The persistent wave of inflation, causing a surge in prices across various goods and services, has compelled consumers to reassess their shopping habits and make budgetary adjustments, in order to cope with the rising costs. Fresh fish and seafood,…

Sales in eggs return to good volume growth, although supply chain issues continue to create some challenges. In a cross-category trend, the food industry in Australia continues to face some challenges connected to supply chains. Although emerging…

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 placed a huge strain on the global economy. With Russia and Ukraine being key suppliers of a wide range of goods from fuel to fertilisers and wheat this led to high rates of inflation worldwide. These…

Sales of sugar and sweeteners declined in retail volume terms in 2023, continuing a long-term trend that was only temporary halted in 2020 by the outbreak of COVID-19. Sugar has gained an increasingly negative image in terms of its effect on health,…

Potatoes account for most sales of starchy roots in Mexico with these being used in a broad range of dishes, with consumers perceiving them to be healthy ingredients that provide satiety. Furthermore, they are frequently consumed as a side dish. The…

Beans are perceived as a basic staple by Mexican consumers with these products being used in a wide range of traditional dishes. Furthermore, in times of economic difficulties, they are often seen as an affordable substitute for meat in some popular…

The growing number of consumers switching to plant-based diets has boosted the consumption of nuts such as almonds and macadamia. With a pleasant flavour and without the environmental and health implications of consuming animal-derived products, nuts…

Meat saw steady growth in retail volume terms in 2023, continuing the pattern seen in 2022. In 2022 meat producers were hit by inflationary pressures as the cost of essential raw materials such as grain and fuel rose sharply, in large part due to the…

Sales of most fruits saw steady growth in 2023 in retail volume terms despite high inflation and a sharp rise in the prices of many products. Fresh fruits are widely available and affordable in Mexico with most consumers being fully aware of the…

Sales of fresh food continued to grow in retail volume terms in 2023, with most categories recording growth. The fresh food industry in Mexico was heavily influenced by economic and climatic factors in 2023, as well as international events such as…

Foodservice sales of fish and seafood continued to see a steady recovery in 2023 backed by the end of the pandemic and an increase in inbound and domestic tourism. Consumers also returned to more out-of-home activities, including returning to the…

Continuing the pattern seen in 2022, sales of eggs recorded steady growth in retail volume terms in 2023. The growing popularity of eggs in Mexico at the end of the review period was linked to the fact that these products provide a more affordable…

This report is a global overview of the fresh food industry, considering its major trends and developments. The report examines the comparative performance of fresh foods across regions and markets and explores five-year forecasts. In addition, it…

Amidst surging prices, consumer consumption of fresh vegetables witnessed a heavy decline in retail volume terms in 2022. This price escalation varied across different product categories, with tomatoes standing out as one of the most affected.…

Sales of sugar and sweeteners in Spain continued to decline in retail volume terms in 2023, albeit at a far more modest rate than in the previous two years. Although sugar and sweeteners saw positive growth in current value terms in 2023 this was…

After seeing a steep decline in sales in retail volume terms in 2022 due to inflation and a shift towards more budget-friendly and convenient alternatives like frozen potatoes and ready-to-eat tortillas, the consumption of starchy roots displayed…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Unfavourable climatic conditions significantly affected tomato, onion, and maize production in 2023, leading to decreased yields and a subsequent drop in supply. This scarcity propelled prices upwards, prompting the government to enforce restrictions…

2022 was a difficult year for the vegetables category, as there was a drop in volume terms resulting from several factors, including a high rate of inflation and rising energy costs. The high rate of inflation led to an increase in vegetable prices,…

Total volume growth in vegetables remains relatively stable, albeit flat in the light of price rises, as certain products such as onions and tomatoes are staple ingredients in French cooking. However, the consumption of summer vegetables has been…

Sugar and sweeteners in Morocco showed a modest growth rate in total volume sales in 2023, reflecting its proximity to maturity. This slow growth trajectory can be attributed to the increasing health consciousness prevailing among Moroccan consumers,…

The sugar supply chain in Italy had to face various problems related to costs and raw materials in the last two years of the review period. Firstly, the production costs of sugar are already high due to the need to use advanced technologies to…

Sugar consumption continues to fall in France in retail terms, with sales otherwise supported by foodservice and institutional volume, alongside value being supported by inflationary price hikes. Local production in the 2022/2023 season was…

Potatoes continue to hold a dominant position, accounting for almost all starchy root consumption in Morocco. Integral to Moroccan cuisine for an extensive period, potatoes feature prominently in various dishes such as Niçoise salad, tajines, and as…

In 2022, volume sales of starchy roots declined in the Italian market. Meanwhile, from a production point of view, yields had been lower than expected and investments had been made. The main cause was the effects of climate change, with the weather…

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…

Across meat and seafood, there is a noticeable shift in consumer preferences. Factors such as rising prices, economic constraints, and health awareness have prompted consumers to reconsider their protein sources. In meats, red meat consumption…

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,…

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…

The heightened consumption of nuts in Morocco during 2022 and 2023 was significantly influenced by major sporting events like the World Cup, becoming popular snacks, particularly salted almonds and peanuts, consumed both at home and in various…

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…

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…

The year 2023 witnessed a significant surge in red meat prices in Morocco, attributed to various factors. Commencing in 2019, Moroccan consumers boycotted several dairy products, leading numerous breeders to sell their cows to slaughterhouses. The…

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.…

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…

Overall fruit volume sales experienced a decline due to adverse weather conditions, resulting in low harvest yields and increased unit prices across various fruit categories. The increased prices prompted many Moroccans to opt for lower-priced fruits…

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…

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…

The national economy experienced a significant slowdown in its growth throughout 2022 and 2023, largely due to a combination of drought and inflation. This economic deceleration resulted in a decrease in domestic demand, primarily influenced by the…