South Africa

Spectacles in South Africa remains a highly lucrative category, and dominates value sales of overall eyewear in the country. As many South Africans continue to face economic hardship, they are being forced to review their budgets and spend more…

PET bottles are the dominant pack type used for soft drinks in South Africa, as they are cost-effective, both in terms of production and transportation. The lightweight nature of the bottles reduces transportation costs, making them a practical…

The health and wellness trend is becoming increasingly entrenched in South Africans’ lives, although regular soft drinks such as carbonates retain higher share overall compared to reduced sugar options. While brands are adapting more to this trend,…

2023 has marked another tough year for consumers in South Africa, with double-digit food inflation, rising interest rates, and continuous rolling blackouts (loadshedding). Loadshedding has affected the entire supply chain, as well as consumers, as…

Dominating value sales of smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in South Africa, e-vapour products continued to drive category growth in 2023. The increasing popularity of these alternative products is one of the factors driving…

With relatively low bargaining power, small local grocers in South Africa have become more exposed to the persisting inflationary pressure since they often source their products from wholesalers. The latter tend to have higher markups in comparison…

The popularity of small cooking appliances continues to grow in line with greater awareness among local consumers of different ways of cooking. Traditionally, low- to mid-income consumers with restricted budgets tend to rely on certain affordable…

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…

Since the pandemic, consumers have increasingly focused on skin care in South Africa as part of self-care routines, supporting elevated demand in 2023. Despite tough economic hardships in South Africa, new skin care brands continued to emerge as many…

The top players in savoury snacks are set to continue to record value share declines in 2023, mainly driven by higher unit prices. The weather continues to hamper the local production of potatoes used in the production of potato chips. While the…

There was a modest acceleration in the rate of unit volume growth in sauces, dressings and condiments packaging during 2020. With South Africa enforcing one of the strictest lockdowns in the world in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, many…

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…

Despite the expectation of a notable retail volume decline for overall sauces, dips and condiments in 2023, as consumers have been reducing their spending on non-essential grocery items, recipe sauces is set to experience moderate growth, as…

RTDs in South Africa continued to perform well in 2023, driven by the popularity of convenient, pre-mixed drinks and the re-emergence of a cocktail culture. The popularity for mixing beverages has been sustained due to the rising affordability of…

Rooibos tea continues to be a growing choice among South Africans due to its local positioning. It is also considered the more suitable option due to its pricing, antioxidant and hydrating effects. This supports the growth of rooibos tea, especially…

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…

The average unit price of toilet paper in South Africa continued to rise in 2023, with inflation affecting transport, fuel and production costs. Inflation also impacted consumers’ disposable incomes, and thus retailers’ shelves were stacked with…

In 2023, the retail landscape in South Africa remained challenged by the operating environment, translating into slow economic growth, which left unemployment at a relatively high level. As inflation remained above the South African Reserve Bank…

In 2023, sales via e-commerce in South Africa continued to benefit from a steady decline in the price of connectivity, which allowed a higher number of consumers to access the service at affordable prices. For instance, the price of 1G broadband has…

With the effects of inflation still being felt within the market during 2023, many consumers turned to more affordable options for retail adult incontinence in South Africa. This resulted in the further demand for private label and cheaper…