South Africa

Imaging devices are increasingly under threat from alternative, better value for money products that serve the same purpose, most notably smartphones. Most new smartphones have an imaging functionality that competes with both digital cameras and…

Rolling blackouts (loadshedding) have persisted in 2023, averaging stage 4 for the year (at the time of writing this report), which means that consumers experience power cuts for three to four two-hour slots per day. As a result, consumers have cut…

The number of hypermarkets operating in South Africa continued to decline in 2023. The trend emerged just prior to the pandemic due to cautious investments in the wake of economic uncertainty in the country. This scenario was exacerbated by lockdown…

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 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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

In the coming years, South Africa is predicted to see a rise in the number of households, particularly single person households, which continue to be the largest and fastest growing household type. In 2022, household spending was impacted by a 7%…

Flexible aluminium/plastic, which is the dominant pack type used in hot drinks packaging in South Africa, continued to record strong unit volume growth in this industry in 2023. Flexible aluminium/plastic packaging is seen as providing superior…

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…

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…

In 2023, sustainability remained a key focus for consumers in South Africa, leading to growing demand for homewares such as kitchen utensils and other items made from eco-friendly materials. Products such as bamboo utensils and reusable silicone food…

Consumer demands continued to evolve in 2023, alongside the emergence of new technologies. One notable trend within home video was a growing demand for multifunctional smart TVs, which gave consumers the opportunity to stream their favourite shows…

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…

Remote/hybrid working measures in South Africa since the pandemic have changed consumers’ lifestyles, including placing greater pressure on their time. Busy consumers must juggle work with childcare commitments, including taking or collecting them…

Demand for home insecticides in South Africa continued to rise in 2023, with the country experiencing a surge in the presence and number of German cockroaches. Climate change oriented around wet and humid summers earlier in the year perpetuated the…

In 2023, value sales growth of home improvement in South Africa remained fairly flat, but some local consumers continued to be invest in their kitchens and bathrooms. Bathroom and kitchen renovations are some of the most popular as these are most…

Value sales of home furnishings in South Africa continued to rise in 2023. However, retailers have shifted to procuring more locally manufactured furniture following the high costs of shipping and supply chain delays. Local and global logistics…