South Africa

In 2023, direct selling in South Africa remained subject to challenging operating environments. Despite some stabilising of value sales following three consecutive years of decline as a result of the pandemic, there was still lower demand for certain…

Sustainability has emerged as a major trend in the packaging industry in South Africa due to a confluence of factors. These include: growing environmental concerns; consumer demand for eco-friendly products; government regulations promoting…

Pens is set to remain the biggest category within writing instruments in value terms in 2023, with pencils also remaining a significant category. Pens and pencils are expected to see positive current value growth rates in 2023 despite the tough…

The impact of inflation has not spared vegetables, with the latter also experiencing further steep price increases in 2023. With affordability being a key priority for South Africans, one of the ways to offset these increases is by choosing to…

Instant coffee retains its dominance of coffee in retail volume terms in South Africa, with sales continuing to rise in 2023 as many local consumers prioritise their disposable incomes by regularly making coffee at home. They are turning to channels…

The first live-action Barbie film was released in South Africa in 2023, encouraging many apparel and footwear specialists to stock various licensed clothing items featuring the Barbie logo. Watching the Barbie film for many local consumers was a…

Since the pandemic, the focus on wearing formal attire has shifted to more casual trends in South Africa. This trend remains prevalent in 2023, with fewer formal attire ranges being displayed in various men’s apparel specialists. As a result, many…

Hosiery remains a small and declining category in South Africa (in retail volume sales terms). Generally, hosiery will account for low share of shelf in most apparel and retail stores. Similarly, expansion potential is relatively limited as there is…

Demand for men’s grooming in South Africa continued to rise in 2023. Since the pandemic, an increasing number of South African males have started to prioritise their skin care routines, including a greater shift towards using face masks. Men are not…

Home products specialists in South Africa continued to record a fairly weak performance in 2023. From one of the lowest interest rates imposed by the South African Reserve Bank during the pandemic, mortgage rates continued to skyrocket in 2023 as the…