South Africa

Despite the tough economic landscape in South Africa and the cost of living crisis in the country consumers continue to purchase paediatric consumer health products. During the review period, consumers cut down on discretionary spending and were even…

In South Africa, many consumers take their mental health very seriously. Mental awareness and assistance for those experiencing mental health problems is easily available in South Africa through various channels. For example, people have access to…

For many sports enthusiasts, sports nutrition is a vital part of their daily nutritional routine. Many consumers who use sports nutrition are generally active gym users or even play a sport. Sports nutrition products provide those who are exercising…

During the review period, more consumers have prioritised their skin care. Despite the economic difficulties, consumers are still purchasing skin care products as there are various skin care ranges both locally and internationally that have a wide…

Despite the tough economic conditions in South Africa in 2023, consumers remain dedicated to their health and wellbeing. As such, they are still prioritising activities such as going to the gym, outdoor sports and taking a walk after work, with even…

For many consumers wound care items are considered non-essential and appear rarely in monthly grocery shopping baskets. Wound care products are rarely bought in high volumes or even on a regular basis. Consumers who purchase wound care products only…

Flexible plastic and folding cartons remained popular packaging types for dried baby food in South Africa (the second largest category in baby food packaging), as they are considered more lightweight and easy to transport, making them convenient for…

Moisture and air exposure can lead to undesirable changes in the texture and taste of confectionery such as sugar confectionery, including gummies and chews, and chocolate confectionery, such as boxed assortments. As a result, flexible plastic…

Thin wall plastic containers are widely favoured for packaging various dairy products, including butter and spreads and yoghurt in South Africa, due to their lightweight and durable nature. These containers offer a convenient solution for both…

In South Africa, dry soup is well-liked as it is a strong option in areas with inconsistent access to energy or refrigeration, since it can be stored for long periods of time without refrigeration. Flexible plastic and folding cartons are frequently…

In the forecast period, new car sales will be supported by an improved macroeconomy, while sales of electric vehicles (EVs) will be driven by incentives and a growing charging network. Public transport will aim to become more centralised, as taxis…

The increasing demand for plant-based dairy options in South Africa is mainly attributed to the greater adoption of healthy lifestyles for a wide range of reasons, from vegetarianism to dietary (such as intolerance to lactose) and environmental…

Metal food cans remained the dominant packaging in category within processed fruit and vegetables in 2022, driven by shelf stable fruit and vegetables, with shelf stable beans holding the largest retail unit volume share.

Processed seafood, driven primarily by shelf stable seafood, continued to support demand for packaging volumes in South Africa in 2022. Shelf stable seafood, such as tuna, pilchards and sardines remain popular choices for South Africans due to the…

Sauces is the largest packaging category in sauces, dips and condiments, driven by cooking and table sauces, in particular mayonnaise, ketchup and salad dressings. Home seclusion during the pandemic, especially in 2020, drove up demand for cooking…

Nut and seed based spreads remained the largest category in sweet spreads packaging in retail unit volumes in 2022, recording positive growth in line with demand for these popular products in South Africa. These products are generally perceived as…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

Globally, young adults are the key consumers of plant-based foods, and South Africa is no different. South Africa ranks in the top five countries that ordered the most vegan dishes according to UberEats, with vegan burgers reported as the most…

2022 was a challenging year for many South Africans challenged by continuous blackouts, rising food inflation and unemployment. While consumers reduced non-essential spending to help balance household budgets, healthy eating remained top of mind.…

Hot drink innovations in 2022 were primarily focused on new offerings addressing consumer demand for non-animal products, including healthy plant-based alternatives, across chocolate-based, malt-based and other plant-based drinks. However, these…

Private label snacks have grown in popularity as South Africans seek affordable alternatives to well-known, established brands. Retailers are capitalising on this trend by investing in research and development to create innovative snacks that cater…

With the continued development of the health and wellness industry in South Africa, children are being increasingly targeted as a significant consumer group for healthier soft drinks. Much of this is being driven by local parents, who are becoming…

2022 saw many South Africans reduce their spending on perceived non-essentials as the cost of living increased. In many aspects, health and wellness demands from consumers took a backseat in their priorities, given inflationary pressures. Major…

With many consumers struggling financially in South Africa, apparel accessories are regarded as non-essential purchases. With the high levels of inflation that impact the daily cost of living for South Africans, many consumers are reducing their…

For many South Africans, apparel and footwear is perceived as a non-essential purchase, with price-sensitive consumers reducing their discretionary spending in 2023 due to the impact of high inflation on food, fuel and even electricity. Consumers are…

Many local consumers remain extremely price sensitive in 2023 due to high levels of inflation impacting the prices of food, fuel, mortgage and even rent in South Africa. Hence, they are looking for value for money when they purchase childrenswear.…

Many South Africans continue to struggle financially in 2023 due to the cost-of-living crisis, where high levels of inflation are impacting the cost of food, fuel and even mortgage and rent payments. Therefore, price-sensitive consumers are reducing…

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…

Many South Africans face tough economic conditions due to the rising cost of living. This is forcing them to reduce their discretionary spending. Due to economic difficulties in the country, increasing numbers of consumers are trading down from…

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…

Since the pandemic, many consumers have adopted healthy lifestyles that include regular workouts or walks. This in turn has fuelled demand for sportswear, with sales remaining buoyant in 2023. While increasingly busy consumers may have less time to…

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…

Demand for consumer credit gross lending is set to continue to increase in 2023, despite the South African Reserve Bank’s consecutive rises in interest rates to stabilise inflationary pressures. This trend has been driven mainly by declining…

The South African economy has continued to struggle in 2023, as reflected by 0.4% real GDP growth, the unemployment rate stagnating beyond 32%, and the South African rand depreciating further against major currencies. Economic growth has also been…

Following the significant decline in transaction value and volumes experienced in 2020 due to extended restrictions imposed in the South African travel and hospitality industries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the complete lifting of the state…

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…

As more middle-income households are struggling to reach month-end, due to the combined effects of rising interest rates, which have put pressure on existing vehicle and mortgage loans, as well as inflationary pressures, which have affected…

The prices of essential goods and services such as food and electricity have continued to rise in 2023, despite the relatively lower level of inflation, which moved from 7.0% in 2022 to 5.7% in 2023. Debit card value transactions benefited from this…

The number of financial cards in circulation is set to continue to increase in 2023, supported by a steady rise in the banked population and the intensified competition between issuers. Meanwhile, value transactions across categories such as debit…

In 2023, rising inflation, which reached its highest level in 14 years, and increased input costs for brands are curbing the spending habits of many South Africans. Additionally, input costs for major industry players are rising as they adapt to…

The health and wellness trend continues to gain momentum in South Africa. Alternative dairy products are creating access to a new target audience, whereby consumers are experimenting with vegan options. This new segment in consumer preferences is…

As mobility has normalised in 2023, following restrictions imposed during the pandemic, demand for pre-paid cards for the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system has benefited from households resuming activities such as work and school. Growth in…

Store cards is set to witness growth in volume and value transactions in 2023, supported by cash-strapped consumers, notably lower- to middle-income consumers. This trend has been consolidated by the rising cost of living, which continues to affect…

Retail demand for local rooibos tea (other tea) continues to grow amid a demographic that is adopting healthier lifestyle habits. Brands are thus producing rooibos offerings that are tailored to different consumers. In the younger demographic,…

The average unit price of leavened bread in South Africa, which holds the highest retail volume share in baked goods, has increased significantly in 2023, resulting in another year of retail volume decline, following its weak performance the previous…

Many consumers in South Africa are price sensitive, but within the context of the review period, they are more cash-strapped than ever before. There are numerous compounding factors reducing the spending power of local consumers, including elevated…

Volume sales of shelf stable beans are recording robust, double-digit growth through both retail and foodservice channels in 2023. The rising cost of living has encouraged local consumers to search for affordable protein sources, including beans.…

Retail volume sales of processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat continue to rise in 2023, although different categories are experiencing varying performances. Rolling power outages, especially around dinner time, have been boosting demand for…

As the price of wheat has increased over the review period as a result of the war in Ukraine, some South Africans have been reducing their bread consumption, leading to a stronger switch to other staple foods such as rice, since it can stretch…

2023 is proving to be a tough financial year for South Africans due to double-digit food inflation, rising interest rates and rolling blackouts. Many categories have experienced single-digit unit price growth, which is placing pressure on volume…