Fresh Food

Supply chain disruptions and heightened inflationary pressure continue to present challenges across all packaged food and fresh food categories. Food markets face a particular test with elevated inflation, even as the pandemic’s effects on markets…

In 2023, nuts recorded a significant rate of volume growth, particularly in the foodservice sector, driven by the increasing number of tourists visiting Vietnam. The impact of inflation and a sluggish economy led to changes in people's spending…

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…

Throughout 2023, Brazilian agricultural production faced various challenges, predominantly from adverse weather conditions that impacted the harvest of key crops. For consumers in Brazil, these complications were reflected through rising price…

In 2022, total volume sales of pulses declined due to disrupted logistics caused by the ongoing impact of the pandemic in China and shortened operating hours for physical foodservice establishments, with this channel holding considerable share of…

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…

In India, pulses is set to maintain solid total volume growth in 2023, with increases across all categories. Pulses continue to feature prominently in a wide array of traditional dishes in the country, ranging from dals (lentil soups) to curries.…

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,…

Total volume sales of pulses in Japan continue to grow in 2023, albeit slowly, mainly driven by the further rebound of foodservice. Throughout 2020 and 2021, foodservice volume sales of pulses in Japan suffered, as several cities, such as Tokyo,…

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…

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…

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) reported a significant slowdown in disposable incomes in the first quarter of 2023. The impact of high inflation and rising interest rates resulted in a household debt-to-income ratio increasing from 61.6% to…

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…

The price of soybeans has seen a continuous surge since 2020 in response to persistently rising demand, with domestic output declining during the latter years of the review period. The retail consumption of soybeans and other soybean byproducts, such…

The growing popularity of plant-based diets is increasing the demand for alternative sources of protein to meat. Pulses are considered an excellent protein alternative. As an increasing number of local consumers are adopting vegetarian and vegan…

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…

Retail volumes continue to marginally fall in 2023, as competition from processed foods threatens demand for pulses in the US. Evolving lifestyles and inconsistent daily routines continue to make it increasingly unappealing for consumers to take…

Although peas and other pulses have a presence in Vietnam, availability is low and sales are still very small. The use of peas and other pulses is limited to a few dishes, and these products do not have wide consumer awareness. By contrast, beans are…

Extensive flooding over late 2022, following heavy rains in crucial growing regions across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, has impacted food supplies, leading to supply fluctuations due to major damage to harvests, and…

In 2023, the starchy roots market, primarily represented by cassava, experienced positive growth. Supply was robust at the start of the year, with a notable increase in cassava production in various regions due to farmers' interest in…

In 2023, as local consumers return to more normal lifestyles, total volume sales of starchy roots are starting to recover from the previous year’s disruptions when pandemic-related restrictions in China were still in place, which negatively impacted…

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…

Starchy root consumption in Germany experienced another year of decline in 2023, reflecting market dynamics and dietary trends affecting the category. The evolving dietary habits of consumers in Germany were one of the factors influencing this shift.…

Starchy roots is set to maintain slow and stable total volume growth in India in 2023, with increases expected by all measures. Potatoes remains by far the dominant category within starchy roots, but is set to see the slowest rate of growth in 2023.…

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…

Total demand for starchy roots in Japan continues to improve in 2023, mainly driven by foodservice and retail channels. Like many categories of fresh food, foodservice volume sales of starchy roots experienced significant declines at the height of…

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…

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…

Potatoes are a staple for many South Africans, comprising 95% total volume share of starchy roots. Therefore, a reduction in supply and price hikes are impacting local consumers. The supply of potatoes declined in February 2023 to the lowest…

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…

The unit prices of starchy roots increased significantly throughout 2022 and 2023 due to constant rises in the costs of production and unfavourable weather conditions throughout the year. Like other fresh food categories, the farming and production…

The United Arab Emirates has a very diverse population, whereby potatoes are an important ingredient used in numerous dishes. Potatoes are the most consumed form of starchy roots in both retail and foodservice. Supported by a growing population in…

Extreme weather conditions in 2022 and 2023 have had an impact on the production of starchy roots in the UK and around the world. Droughts and hot weather occurred in 2022, while a wet spring and summer delayed the campaign for starchy roots in 2023.…

While strong foodservice growth continues to fuel starchy roots, retail volumes are fluctuating. Notably, potatoes continues to see declining retail demand, signifying a longer road to recovery than previously hoped for. Disruptions to the harvesting…

In 2023, an increased awareness of the importance of health and wellness contributed to the rise in demand for starchy roots in Vietnam. The nutritional advantages of eating these foods, such as high-quality carbs, dietary fibre, and crucial…

Sugar is struggling in 2023, due to a combined series of factors. To start with, prices have been steadily rising in sugar. Global supplies have been seeing a reduced output from the UK and Europe, as sugar beet crops have been impacted by extreme…

The year 2023 was marked by a unique dynamic in the sugar market in Brazil, characterised by significant changes in prices, production, and consumption of the sweetener. Throughout the 2023/24 sugarcane season, the average prices of crystal sugar…

In 2023, the performance of sugar and sweeteners, like other fresh food categories, is being influenced by the post-pandemic scenario, leading to reduced home consumption and an increase in foodservice volumes, with the latter driving overall demand.…

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…

In 2023, retail volume sales of sugar in Germany ceased their declining trajectory and stagnated. Since the at-home baking trend peaked in 2020 and supported category growth following previous declines, 2023 witnessed sugar consumption levels…

Sugar and sweeteners is expected to see continued total volume growth in India in 2023. Meanwhile, retail current value growth is expected to be significantly higher than retail volume growth, primarily due to retail price increases as a result of…

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…

Total demand for sugar and sweeteners in Japan remains stable in 2023 compared to the previous year, with foodservice volume sales partially offsetting the decline in retail volume sales. Foodservice volume sales had suffered throughout 2020 and…

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,…

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,…

South Africa’s sugar industry has struggled in recent years due to a combination of poor local production, impacted by loadshedding and flooding, as well as elevated international sugar prices, caused by climatic factors such as drought. While…

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…

Hikes in production costs have pushed up prices of sugar and sweeteners in Thailand. Retail prices rose throughout 2023, continuing a trend that began at the outbreak of COVID-19. Thailand's farmers and agricultural producers were threatened by the…

Although there are many initiatives to reduce sugar consumption, demand for sugar and sweeteners continues to grow in the United Arab Emirates. Sweets and desserts are culturally important in the United Arab Emirates, as they are often associated…