Netherlands

Manufacturers in the food category continue to grapple with escalating production and distribution costs, coupled with increased sector loans, mirroring the challenges faced in 2022. These factors continue to exert upward pressure on final consumer…

Value sales of RX/reimbursement adult incontinence products registered moderate growth in 2023. For many people who are embarrassed about incontinence issues, there is a preference to buy incontinence products online, despite insurance reimbursement…

While many alcoholic drinks categories struggled to achieve total volume growth in 2023, RTDs still recorded an increase in both total volume and current value terms. The increase in total volume was only modest, but with extreme increases in average…

RTD tea has shown another positive performance in 2023, with off-trade volume growth set to surpass that recorded in 2022 and growth in on-trade volume sales remaining robust despite slowing due to the ongoing normalisation of foodservice consumption…

RTD coffee has remained by far the most dynamic of the main soft drinks categories in the Netherlands in off-trade volume growth terms in 2023. This is partly because sales are still emerging from a relatively low base, though booming demand also…

The unpackaged trend is gaining momentum with increased sales of unpackaged rice and pasta in both organic and conventional supermarkets. Retailers are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint associated with packaging, attracting…

In 2023, retail value sales of retail tissue in the Netherlands experienced solid growth. However, declining disposable incomes are leading some consumers to decrease their usage of toilet paper. Adjustments in their purchasing behaviour have…

Retail in the Netherlands saw positive growth in current value terms in 2023 but this was largely reflective of the impact of inflation and price rises rather than an increase in consumption. Many channels actually reported declining volume sales in…

Consumers are increasingly shopping online for their groceries with the return to busy lives away from the home leaving less time for grocery shopping. Growth was seen from both pure players and traditional store-based grocery retailers which have…

Retail value sale of retail adult incontinence products recorded moderate growth in 2023. Rather than buy retail adult incontinence, many consumers often revert to pantyliners or menstrual care products in order to save money. As menstrual care…

Refrigeration appliances saw a decline in retail volume sales in the Netherlands in 2023 as consumers continued to be cautious about spending on big purchases. The boom in sales during the outbreak of COVID-19 also accounts for the decline in retail…

As the number of consumers dining at home increased during lockdown, meal kit producers experienced a surge in demand. As a result, packaging unit volumes of folding cartons and flexible plastic used in dinner mixes recorded explosive growth in 2020.…

The maturing meat substitutes market is experiencing a slowdown in volume growth due to several factors. Firstly, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have played a role in the sales decline, impacting consumer behaviour and preferences.…

The ongoing dynamic retail unit volume growth recorded by packaging for meat and seafood substitutes including tofu within processed meat and seafood packaging at the end of the review was due to the rising popularity of plant-based and vegetarian…

The growth of shelf stable fruit within processed fruit and vegetables packaging in retail unit volumes in the Netherlands towards the end of the review period was attributed to changing consumer lifestyles and preferences. Dutch consumers are…

Processed fruit and vegetables, as a product area, faces challenges stemming from significant price increases. Manufacturers continue to grapple with the repercussions of 2022's gas price hikes, which have driven up production costs. As a result,…

Premium beauty and personal care in the Netherlands saw strong retail current value growth in 2023. This was the first year with no Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions on the opening hours of beauty and personal care retailers since the outbreak of…

Retail current value sales of premium and luxury cars increased by 2% in 2023 to total EUR4.7 billion. This performance owed much to heightened demand from high-earning consumers, who were better able to show resilience against macroeconomic…

A significant shift is underway in the realm of Dutch public transport, as the familiar OV chipkaart is being gradually phased out and replaced with a more versatile system known as OVpay. Since the start of 2023, travellers on public transport have…

Portable players looks set to register a slight increase in volume sales in 2023 thanks to wireless speakers, the only expanding category amongst several declining categories. Portable media players has recorded a strong decline in sales as these…

Dutch workers embrace informal wear at most companies, making consumers less interested in formal work shoes which need polishing. At the same time, the hybrid form of working is also having some impact, as office workers spend time at home requiring…

Plant-based milk packaging, which dominates overall demand for packaging within plant-based dairy in the Netherlands, experienced further growth in retail unit volumes in 2022, due to a growing trend towards alternative diets and lifestyles driven by…

Plant-based dairy in the Netherlands is recording strong volume sales growth in 2023, following on from the previous two years of decline. However, growth is perhaps not as rapid as it could be, thanks to a marked escalation in average unit prices of…

Pet products in the Netherlands is impacted by rising veterinarian costs. A growing number of pet owners are turning to OTC healthcare solutions as a first line of treatment for minor ailments. This trend is partly driven by the desire to manage pet…

Pet care in the Netherlands continues to see consumers trade down in 2024. In a slowly improving economic situation, but with disposable incomes and purchasing power remaining under pressure, consumers are still looking to economise on pet food and…

Although the tax burden is increasing, the Netherlands continues to enjoy significant economic freedom and solid state finances. High prices have negatively impacted economic momentum, but inflation is falling and unemployment is low. The quality of…

Personal luxury retail current value sales increased by 10% in 2023 to reach EUR3.8 billion. Growth was supported by the performances of leading brand owners like Chanel BV, Ralph Lauren Netherlands BV and The Swatch Group Ltd. Sales in 2023 were…

Personal care appliances registered a decline in retail volume sales in 2023, as consumers remained cautious of their spending, focusing on essentials during economic uncertainty. Body shavers, electric facial cleaners, and hair care appliances all…

Personal accessories is anticipated to experience subdued growth in 2023, influenced by factors such as inflation, increased energy costs, and higher taxes, leading to a dampened demand. This slower recovery follows a previous year of rapid growth.…

Over 2023, paediatric consumer health retail current value sales are expected to continue to grow healthily. On the other hand, retail volume development is projected to be marginal-to-moderate, with declines anticipated for paediatric acetaminophen…

The packaging industry in the Netherlands is undergoing a transformation due to a growing emphasis on sustainability, health-conscious consumer choices and eco-friendly alternatives. The rise in plant-based and vegetarian diets has led to a surge in…

Overall, other pet food in the Netherlands is affected by the slowdown in the other pet population, compared to the increases seen in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 and 2021. There was a particularly notable increase in…

In keeping with its performance over most of the review period, other hot drinks is set to contract in retail volume terms in 2023. As a mature category with a much narrower appeal than coffee and tea in the Netherlands, it continues to suffer from a…

In 2023 other dairy in the Netherlands is several subcategories suffer in terms of retail volume sales, though most have recorded an uptick in average retail value sales. Dairy producers have been facing escalating production costs — from core…

Overall, oral care in the Netherlands saw a minor decline in retail volume sales in 2023, while retail current value sales grew strongly. As was the case in many categories of beauty and personal care, the growth in retail value sales was mainly…

NRT smoking cessation aids is projected to post a decline in retail volume sales in 2023, while recording positive retail current value growth. The decline in retail volume sales can be attributed to a couple of key factors. Firstly, following the…

Retail value sales of nappies/diapers/pants recorded moderate growth in 2023. In 2022, a slight increase in the number of babies born led to an increase in sales of nappies/diapers, especially new born and standard, in volume terms. However, this was…

Light vehicle sales were still recovering in 2022, with SUVs and crossovers remaining the most popular car type. The government’s efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and to encourage more sustainable lifestyles are aiding the rise of battery electric…

Mobile phones to see decline in volume sales again in 2023

Microwaves declined in retail volume sales in 2023, with inflationary pressure leading consumers to be unwilling to spend on appliances. Microwaves was also particularly affected by the boost in sales during the pandemic years, with more consumers…

In the Netherlands, the demand for casualwear is driven not only by the pursuit of comfort but also by the influence of street and urban culture trends. Younger Dutch consumers are embracing streetwear styles in both clothing and footwear, prompting…

In 2023, retail value sales of menstrual care recorded moderate growth in the Netherlands. More initiatives to compensate for menstrual poverty were seen in 2023 especially in some cities, where such activities have been in place for some time at the…

Men’s grooming in the Netherlands saw high single-digit retail current value growth in 2023, supported by average unit price increases. While overall retail volume sales dropped, there were positive growth performances for men’s deodorants and…

The stagnant performance by meals and soup packaging in retail unit volume growth terms in the Netherlands is attributed to changing consumer preferences and lifestyles. Dutch consumers are increasingly seeking fresh and healthier food options, with…

Soup is poised for healthy growth in 2023, defying traditional associations with cold weather consumption. Dutch consumers of all age groups continue to embrace soup as a favourite meal option. Valued for its nutritional benefits and perceived as a…

In 2023, mass beauty and personal care in the Netherlands recorded strong retail current value growth across most categories. This performance was driven by a strong rise in average unit price amid inflationary pressure. However, once again, mass…

Retail current value sales of luxury goods in the Netherlands rose by 8% in 2023 in current terms to amount to EUR9.8 billion. There was a clear focus on recovery as Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions lifted, with luxury shoppers keen to indulge in…

The rebound in the number of outlets alongside improving inbound tourism flows are expected to boost lodging’s performance over 2023. There is set to be a further increase in the number of outlets across lodging over 2023, supported by newly-built…

Limited-service restaurants performed relatively well in 2023, with robust rises in current value sales growth driven by high inflation, and positive growth in volume transactions.

2023 saw private label players in laundry care strive to emphasise their strides forward in terms of sustainability, particularly in relation to product ingredients and the possibility of cool washes. A growing number of Dutch consumers were…