Latvia

Health and beauty direct selling continued to dominate retail value sales in 2022, especially through beauty and personal care products. Traditionally, direct selling in Latvia is a well-known channel for beauty products. Moreover, health and beauty…

Grocery retailers saw strong current value growth in 2022. As the situation stabilised with the reduced threat of Coronavirus (COVID-19), smaller formats like food/drink/tobacco specialists, small local grocers and convenience stores also started to…

Consumers continued to move back offline in terms of non-grocery retailers. As the threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and related retail and consumer movement restrictions eased, consumers were more willing and able to return to visiting…

As in other markets, retail in Latvia continued to see the increased adoption of e-commerce at the end of the review period. While visible prior to the onset of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the pandemic accelerated the global shift towards online…

The War in Ukraine had a strong impact on Latvia in 2022, creating conditions for high inflation and economic and political uncertainty. This, in turn, affected consumer priorities and spending patterns in retail arenas. Meanwhile, retail in Latvia…

While chocolate confectionery is expected to register a double digit increase in current value sales, volume sales are expected to fall slightly. Continuing economic uncertainty as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the meteoric rise in…

Gum is expected to register modest volume growth in 2023, as consumers lead busy lives and often use gum as a breath freshener. In addition, gum is particularly popular among smokers, to remove any bad breath.

Ice cream is expected to be an outlier in terms of snacks in 2023, with healthy constant value and volume growth expected. A hot summer is also expected to boost volume sales. However, with consumers continuing to be price sensitive, as inflation…

While savoury snacks is expected to register an increase in current value sales, volume growth is expected to be muted, as continuing high inflation dampens volume sales. Raw materials such as vegetable oil in particular see significant price rises.…

Snacks is expected to register modest constant value and volume growth in 2023, as continuing economic uncertainty as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the meteoric rise in inflation and tightening monetary policy, all have a dampening…

While sugar confectionery is expected to register an increase in current value sales, volume growth is expected to be muted, as continuing high inflation dampens volume sales. In terms of value growth, mints are expected to be the strongest…

While sweet biscuits, snacks bar and fruit snacks are expected to register a double-digit increase in current value sales, volume sales are expected to fall. Continuing economic uncertainty as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the meteoric…

Baby food recorded further volume decline in 2023 as the birth rate in Latvia continues to decline. Also, price increases in the category have further weakened demand in 2023, depressing volume sales. Consumers have been preparing more food at home…

Retail volume sales of butter and spreads are expected to decrease during 2023, reflecting the declining population and the general trend of consuming less bread. Despite its declining average unit price, retail volume sales of the largest category,…

Volume sales of cheese are experiencing stagnation in 2023 due to its high price, which peaked in 2022 as a result of the rising cost of logistics and energy. Inflation pressure is improving in 2023; however, economic uncertainty prevails. Consumer…

A sharp rise in price inflation as a result of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine led to higher costs in energy, logistics, animal feed and key food ingredients in 2022, which translated into significant price increases for dairy and alternatives.…

Cow's milk is facing stagnating sales in 2023 as demand continues to wane due to the price increases of 2022. Rising energy costs together with logistics and ingredient costs have forced manufacturers to raise average prices. The purchase price of…

Due to the economic uncertainty in the country, most other dairy categories are showing a drop in volume sales in 2023, especially chilled and shelf stable desserts as they are not perceived to be essential items. Decline is also attributable to the…

Plant-based dairy has grown rapidly from a low base in Latvia; however, growth is slowing due to the high prices of plant-based products as the purchasing power of the population is declining due to economic uncertainty in the country. Consuming…

Yoghurt and sour milk drinks recorded a drop in sales in 2023 as they remained rather expensive in the year following significant price increases in 2022. With economic uncertainty and declining purchasing power in Latvia, consumer demand for these…

Analgesics continues to witness strong current value growth in 2023 as consumers return to normal lifestyles and are exposed to regular seasonal common colds and viruses. A high proportion of analgesics are used to tackle everyday colds and flu…

Consumer health in Latvia continues to recover from the pandemic in 2023, with major categories seeing demand patterns rebalance as lifestyles shift back normality. Economic uncertainty is prevailing with inflation remaining high in 2023, a trend…

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in Latvia is registering moderate growth in 2023 as the category begins to stabilise post-pandemic. Retail value sales rebounded strongly 2022 after two years of decline, with lifestyles shifting back to…

Although dermatologicals continues to enjoy steady growth in 2023, current value sales have slowed down compared to the double-digit rates seen at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst spending more time at home, Latvian consumers became…

Dietary supplements registered another strong performance in 2023, with double-digit growth in current value terms. Consumers have adopted healthier habits since the pandemic, and are keen to invest more in their health and immunity. Dietary…

At the beginning of 2023, Latvians were still in the process of returning to normal professional and social activities, following the final removal of all pandemic-related restrictions. As a result, the digestive remedies category is still seeing a…

Herbal/traditional products remain very popular in Latvia, where they are usually used for tackling minor illnesses. Indeed, consumers in Latvia are already quite familiar with using herbal/traditional remedies for the treatment and prevention of…

The winter of 2022-2023 was a very strong period for paediatric consumer health in Latvia. Children fully returned to schools and kindergartens and consequently common viruses began to circulate in society, with high levels of minor health issues.…

The rising number of usage occasions is driving sales of sports nutrition products in Latvia, with double-digit current value growth reported in 2023. Historically, sports nutrition products were mainly used by professional athletes and bodybuilders,…

Although vitamins are still witnessing solid current growth in 2023, demand is now subsiding after several years of dynamic performance during the pandemic years. Retail volume and current value sales are now substantially higher than pre-pandemic…

There has been a strong increase in current value sale of weight management and wellbeing in 2023, although inflation has been a contributory factor pushing up prices. Consumers have resumed their active social lives and body image is a much higher…

Wound care is expected to see stagnant current value growth in 2023 after a period of fluctuation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers have fully returned to outdoor activities and consequently, various minor injuries are fuelling sales of…

Cooking ingredients is expected to register muted constant value and volume growth in 2023. Continuing economic uncertainty as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the meteoric rise in inflation and tightening monetary policy, all have a…

Conditions markedly improve for the consumer in terms of edible oils in 2023. In 2022, the war in Ukraine caused edible oil prices to skyrocket in Lithuania, due to Ukraine being one of the main suppliers of sunflower oil globally. In 2023, the…

Meals and soup is expected to register double-digit current value growth, though constant value growth will be muted, as continuing high inflation eats into profit margins. All the same, there will be some volume growth. Growth is not expected to be…

Inflation continues to have an impact on sauces, dips and condiments in 2023. While there is expected to be double-digit current value growth, constant value growth is expected to be minimal, with inflation cutting into profit margins. Volume growth…

Inflation continues to have an impact on sweet spreads in 2023. While there is expected to be double-digit current value growth, constant value growth is expected to be minimal, with inflation cutting into profit margins. Volume growth is also…

In 2023, Latvia is seeing a continuing decline in overall bread consumption, a key carbohydrate source. The trend is influenced by wider health and wellness trends and exacerbated by a shrinking population, which limits the potential consumer base.…

In 2023, breakfast cereals in Latvia is experiencing stagnation, primarily due to health concerns among parents regarding sugar intake for children. In addition, the static number of children in Latvia limits the potential for market growth. The…

The year 2023 marks a period of stagnation for the processed fruit and vegetables category in Latvia, with volume growth dropping to minimal. While the market is gradually recovering from the severe price inflation experienced in 2022, new economic…

In 2023, processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat in Latvia is recording a rise in volume sales, despite economic uncertainties and health concerns, particularly regarding smoked meat products. Nonetheless, after a phase of post-pandemic…

In 2023, the rice, pasta and noodles market in Latvia is characterised by stability rather than dynamic growth. The category has faced a significant price shock in 2023, with prices rapidly increasing and impeding potential growth. Consequently, a…

Staple foods in Latvia in 2023 is enjoying a period of modest recovery, following the significant price inflation of 2022. Although some growth has been observed, it is primarily a rebound from the previous year's downturn. The industry overall…

Despite a return to on-the-go consumption following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, off-trade volume sales of bottled water declined in 2023. Economic uncertainty is heavily impacting sales, while the outbreak of COVID-19 negatively impacted…

Off-trade volume sales stagnated in carbonates in Latvia in 2023, with a slight decline noted in retail volume as sales were challenged by rising inflation and increased price points. This led many consumers to reduce their spending on…

Off-trade sales declined in 2023, with concentrates being a relatively small category in Latvia, which registered minimal growth over the review period. While its performance was positive in 2020, with people spending more time at home, sales began…

Energy drinks continued recording positive off-trade volume growth in 2023, with double-digit growth for the second year. Energy drinks registered strong growth over the review period and survived the onset of COVID-19 unscathed, with healthy retail…

Off-trade volume sales declined in 2023, challenged by rising price points and the growing health awareness in the country. While many consider juice a healthy product, a rising number of consumers are avoiding juice to reduce their sugar intake.…

Off-trade volume sales recorded double-digit growth in 2022, however, much of this is due to the product growing from a small base. As such, actual product sales and values remain low, with ongoing potential for growth.

RTD tea is not considered an essential item in Latvia, and as such, during economic uncertainty, RTD tea is often cut from consumers' budgets. RTD tea is mainly consumed on the go, and the outbreak of COVID-19 and lockdowns proved negative for retail…