South Africa

Despite the presence of economic challenges that limit consumers’ disposable incomes, refrigeration remains a key necessity for many South Africans. This is evident by the consistent demand for refrigeration appliances in the country over much of the…

Frozen ready meals was the main winner during the pandemic, recording strong double-digit percentage growth in its packaging unit volumes in both 2020 and 2021. This boosted the packaging unit volumes of folding cartons in these years, given it is…

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) reported a significant slowdown in disposable incomes in the first quarter of 2023. The impact of high inflation and rising interest rates resulted in a household debt-to-income ratio increasing from 61.6% to…

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…

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…

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.

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.…

The value size of premium beauty and personal care in South Africa remained considerably smaller than that of the mass segment in 2023, with the latter also recording a more dynamic growth performance. As many local consumers struggled with the cost…

Value sales of premium and luxury cars are set to rise by 14% to total ZAR39.8 billion in 2023. This dynamism is due to increased demand from high-income consumers, who proved to be steadfast in their desire to buy new cars despite the macroeconomic…

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…

During the review period, South Africa faced repeated interruptions to the power supply, known as load-shedding. This had a significant impact on businesses, including consumer electronics, as well as consumer lifestyles. However, these intermittent…

Polishes in South Africa recorded positive retail value growth in 2023, despite another fall in overall demand. The growth in value was attributable to the rapidly rising inflation rate. With higher unit prices of polishes, local consumers continued…

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…

Demand for plant-based dairy products continues to grow locally, with other plant-based milk set to see the strongest retail volume growth in 2023, albeit from a low base. Plant-based milk remains by far the biggest category, thanks its wide…

Pet products witnessed consistent current value growth in South Africa in the review period, and is expected to continue growing in 2024. In addition to pet products for sanitisation, such as cat litter, an increase in pet healthcare products has…

Pet care in South Africa is expected to experience significant current value growth in 2024, which is reflective of the importance of pets in everyday life. Growth is attributable to various factors, including the growing pet population, and the…

South Africa’s political landscape continues to be unstable, hindering economic freedom, whilst social unrest negatively impacts peacefulness. Although inflation is falling, the power crisis is adversely affecting economic development and…

Personal luxury is set to see current value growth of 8% in 2023 to reach ZAR10.6 billion. This is being supported by strong performances from leading brand providers, such as Surtee Group, African Sales Co (Pty) Ltd and Louis Vuitton South Africa…

Personal grooming across the country is becoming an increasingly important aspect of many consumers’ lives. While this concept was traditionally linked to female consumers in South Africa, due to the stigma attached to male consumers who indulged in…

During 2023, many consumers in South Africa have been experiencing tough economic conditions. As a result, they have been cutting back on their discretionary spending due to lower disposable incomes. Similarly, consumers have been prioritising the…