Retailing

Vending in the Philippines continued on its road to recovery in 2023, with healthy growth in current value terms. Sales were boosted an increase in mobility, including the return of Filipinos to their physical offices, which gave rise to more…

Vending saw current value sales rise in Thailand in 2023. The country has been home to vending machines for over 20 years, but vending has recently gained ground with new brands entering the market and brining in new technology and payment systems.…

In Taiwan, traditional vending machines are giving way to smart vending solutions, leveraging advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and big data. These smart machines offer more than just snacks and…

In 2023, vending maintained dynamic current value growth in South Korea, driven by the surge in outdoor activities following the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, although it remained a small channel within the overall retail landscape. This uptick…

2023 witnessed the full effect of the removal of pandemic-related restrictions concerning social activity and international travel, with vending in Singapore continuing to record strong growth due to greater mobility. The vending format thrives on…

The number of vending machines increased in Malaysia in 2023, with several offering health supplements and others dispensing skin care products. There are even machines offering products as diverse as cacti and NFTs, suggesting that the novelty…

Vending machines have a significant presence in Japan, and have been part of the local culture for decades. Vending is a contactless, unmanned, compact, and convenient way of shopping. Although sales declined during the pandemic, a rebound was seen…

Vending saw a second year of double-digit current value growth in Hong Kong in 2023. After sales were negatively affected by the lack of mobility during the pandemic, in 2023 they finally returned to the pre-pandemic (2019) level. Vending machines…

After a year of minimal current value growth in 2022, when consumers limited their trips outside the home due to COVID-19 outbreaks, vending saw a strong increase in its growth rate in China in 2023. A double-digit rise was seen in value sales –…

Supermarkets in Vietnam saw significant growth in 2023, with notable increases in terms of both current value sales and the number of outlets, driven by the aggressive expansion strategies of key players. Local consumers in suburban and rural areas…

Despite ongoing competition from hypermarkets, supermarkets in the Philippines enjoyed positive gains in current value terms in 2023. Growth was boosted by the continued expansion of players such as SM Retail Inc, Robinsons and Puregold, which…

Current value sales continued to rise for supermarkets in Thailand in 2023, at a rate that was significantly faster than that posted in 2022. Supermarket operators in the country tend to target middle- to upper-income consumers, who are somewhat less…

Supermarkets in Taiwan recorded steady value sales growth in 2023, a year marked by digitalisation efforts as well as an expansion in home delivery services. Uni-President officially acquired Carrefour's business in Taiwan on Nov 14, 2022. This…

Although supermarkets saw a second consecutive year of decline in outlet numbers in South Korea in 2023, current value sales maintained low growth. Positioned between convenience stores and hypermarkets, supermarkets leverage their smaller size for…

Despite a marginal value sales decline in 2023, supermarkets in Singapore remained the most popular format of grocery retailers in the local market, with value sales still remaining higher than pre-pandemic levels, and the number of outlets…

Like hypermarkets, the supermarkets channel struggled for growth during the pandemic as consumers adjusted their shopping behaviour. Due to the restrictions in place and the fear of contagion, alongside a shift to home working arrangements, many…

In 2023, price rises were seen across various industries in Japan, impacting the cost of living. During COVID-19, consumers’ eating habits shifted more towards cooking and eating at home. Despite the country gradually returning to the pre-COVID-19…

Supermarkets saw a decline in sales in current value terms in Indonesia in 2023. Supermarket players continued to face notable competition from rival channels in 2023 due to changes in consumer behaviour, notably a shift towards e-commerce, which had…

Even after already rebounding to the pre-pandemic level of value sales as early as 2021, supermarkets saw double-digit current value growth in India in 2022, and this trend continued in 2023. Outlet numbers also maintained their growth trend.…

Supermarkets saw a slight current value decline in Hong Kong in 2023, returning almost to the pre-pandemic level of sales. The average selling price of goods in three of the major supermarkets, Wellcome, ParknShop, and U select, increased by 2%…

Supermarkets saw moderate growth in current value terms in China in 2023. Consumer confidence is yet to pick up significantly in China, as economic uncertainty lingers in the country. Many supermarkets are also struggling with quality control,…

Small local grocers have been finding it increasingly difficult to compete with other retail channels. In 2023 the rapid growth of convenience stores and the persistent rise in e-commerce purchases continued to take their toll on traditional grocery…

While modern grocery outlets such as supermarkets and convenience stores, recorded stronger current value growth than small local grocers in the Philippines in 2023, the accessibility and traditional appeal of sari-sari stores meant that they…

Current value sales for traditional small grocers in Thailand continued to rise in 2023, though at a significantly slower rate than in 2022, as the trend towards shopping in small stores close to homes continued. Small local grocers also benefit from…

Small local grocers in Taiwan recorded solid growth in value sales in 2023. The country boasts over 300 night markets, housing about 20,000 vendors and merchants, with a majority situated in towns and rural areas. These vibrant hubs represent the…

In 2023, small local grocers in South Korea saw yet another year of decline in both current value sales and outlet numbers. The channel has been encountering difficulties as consumer preference is tending to shift towards e-commerce and convenience…

“Mama shops”, which are small local grocers in Singapore typically located within older and mature residential estates, used to be the cornerstone of grocery retailers in the local market. Such a traditional retail format used to thrive on the…

One of the most important pandemic-related impacts on small local grocers was the huge shift towards working from home. This deprived many operators of an extremely important consumer base of busy, urban professionals looking for a quick and easy…

Traditionally, Japanese consumers have enjoyed shopping in areas called Shotengai, where many small shops, including small local grocers, are lined up along the streets. Customers visit different specialist shops to buy their vegetables, fish, and…

Small local grocers saw modest growth in current value terms in Indonesia in 2023. Besides continued economic pressures, the performance of the small local grocers channel has been restricted by consumers switching towards modern grocery retailers,…

In 2023, small local grocers maintained dynamic current value growth in India, although outlet numbers stagnated for another year. This channel also continued to dominate value sales within grocery retailers in this year, accounting for three…

In 2023, small local grocers maintained a similar performance to that seen in previous years in Hong Kong, with further current value growth. The positive performance was helped by residential areas remaining a stable and strong source of domestic…

Small local grocers in China includes a broad range of outlet types, from mom-and-pop stores to wet markets. After a year of significant decline in 2022, small local grocers returned to growth in 2023. This was mainly due to the end of COVID-19…

Retail in Vietnam struggled in 2023, facing pressures from inflation and a weakening export market, among other things. Local consumers cut back on spending which negatively impacted several retail categories, including appliances and electronics…

Despite the deleterious impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Uzbekistan recorded positive annual real GDP growth of 1.9% in 2020. With the reopening of the economy, as well as higher state investment and a recovery in remittance inflows that bolstered…

Despite persisting inflationary pressures, retail in the Philippines recorded healthy growth in in current value terms in 2023, continuing the trend of the previous year. Sales were boosted an increase in mobility, including the return of Filipinos…

Thailand’s retail industry in 2023 continued to evolve and improve, responding to growing demand from consumers with convenience as a key driver. The wholesale and retail sectors, along with the vehicle maintenance and household goods sectors, have…

Retail in 2023 presented a mixed landscape in Taiwan, marked by economic challenges as the country grappled with a recession in the first quarter. This downturn was primarily attributed to a decline in exports and subdued global demand for…

Sri Lanka experienced an economic crisis in 2022 with hyperinflation and severe import restrictions due to a lack of dollars. Many retailers struggled to meet demand with the country experiencing severe shortages, including for key products such as…

In 2023, retail in South Korea maintained solid current value growth both online and offline, with growth also returning to outlet numbers in the offline space. Value increases were seen across most channels, although growth in outlet numbers was…

Retail in Singapore has left the impact of the pandemic behind following the easing of restrictions, and has continued with resilient, albeit slower, growth in 2023. The full-scale resumption of social activities and the reopening of international…

In 2022, retail in Pakistan was severely impacted by the devastating floods and the economic crisis. Dwindling consumer purchasing power, supply chain disruptions, reduced agriculture output, weak lending activity by commercial banks and currency…

Retail in Myanmar witnessed double-digit growth in current value terms in 2022 but this was largely driven by high inflation and the depreciation of the local currency exchange rate. Households became more price sensitive amidst declining purchasing…

Following reopened borders and lifted restrictions in 2022, Malaysia's retail sector witnessed a surge in consumer revenge spending throughout the year. However, starting from the second quarter of 2023, the trend showed signs of decline as consumer…

Inflation remains high, making imported goods more expensive for consumers and restricting purchases of non-essentials, despite a degree of post-COVID-19 recovery. Retailing remains underdeveloped, with informal retailing dominant and benefiting from…

Kazakhstan has strong trade links with Russia in particular and its war in Ukraine negatively impacted the economy and led to high inflation. While skyrocketing international oil and gas prices boosted the local economy, its usual outflow to the…

Retail maintained solid current value growth in Japan in 2023, with increases across both offline and e-commerce. In 2023, offline retail regained stronger momentum due to the return of mobility post-COVID-19. On 8 May 2023, the Japanese government…

Retail saw current value growth in Indonesia in 2023. More premium orientated retailers saw particularly strong performances, as their core consumer base was less severely impacted by the economic difficulties seen at the end of the review period.…

The retail industry showed dynamic current value growth in India in 2023, driven by conducive macroeconomic factors, as well as the full return of mobility and travel after the end of the pandemic. The strong performance in 2023 can be attributed to…

Retail saw another year of solid current value growth in Hong Kong in 2023. However, the increase was mainly due to the low base, and sales were unable to recover to the 2018 level – pre-pandemic and protests. Nevertheless, benefiting from the…