Staple Foods

Over 2023, retail volume sales of processed fruit and vegetables are projected to witness stagnation, due to multiple factors. Rising product prices, heavy pressure on purchasing power and the increasing popularity of ready meals as alternatives…

The war in Ukraine disrupted trade routes, influencing the cost of animal feed, transportation and other expenses linked to meat production. The rising costs of agricultural commodities due to the war in Ukraine and the trade restrictions on Russia…

As meat prices continued to increase in 2023, processed red meat prices also rose. However, as a relatively cheap option to fresh meat, chilled and frozen processed red meat continued to see demand grow. Meanwhile, companies reduced their portion…

The consumption of processed meat continues to decline in France in 2023, although the category has continued to see strong growth in current value terms. This contrasting performance is down to the significant price hikes witnessed in 2022 and 2023,…

Processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat in Portugal is currently grappling with the impact of significantly increased energy and raw material costs, some of which have doubled. The situation has severely affected category members, leading to…

The maturing meat substitutes market is experiencing a slowdown in volume growth due to several factors. Firstly, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have played a role in the sales decline, impacting consumer behaviour and preferences.…

Sales of processed poultry have continued to grow in retail volume terms in 2023 despite the high price hikes caused by inflation and the increase in the cost of raw materials and energy. These products are still relatively cheap compared to other…

In 2022, the impact of inflation was evident in various areas of the market, including processed meat and processed seafood. Both of these categories experienced a decline in retail volume terms, while seeing healthy growth in current value terms.…

In Sweden, the market for processed meat, seafood, and meat alternatives experienced a return to normal sales in 2023 after the pandemic. The foodservice sector recovered as dining out rebounded, while retail sales reverted to pre-COVID-19 levels.…

In 2023, processed meat and seafood in Belgium has been facing a challenging environment, with negative factors influencing performance. The year has continued the downward trajectory seen in 2022, marked by a compound set of stressors—notably the…

Processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat continued to see the normalisation of volume sales in 2023. Foodservice volume sales recovered at the expense of retail volume sales as Coronavirus (COVID-19) and related restrictions eased and lifted.…

In 2023, processed meat and seafood in Switzerland continued to perform well. While there is a marked shift toward poultry consumption, red meat still represented the largest proportion of meat consumed in the country. Swiss consumers are…

Sales of meat and seafood substitutes in Austria experienced a temporary decline in retail volume terms in 2022, attributed to various factors such as supply chain disruptions, economic uncertainty and shifting consumer preferences. The category…

In 2023, retail volume sales of processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat remained in decline due to inflationary pressures. Since 2022, increases in the cost of raw materials, shipping costs, labour wages and energy have led to substantial…

In 2023, the growth of processed meat in Ireland was driven by robust demand from the UK and EU, comprising 43% and 47% of the total value of Irish beef exports, respectively. Furthermore, there were promising opportunities in Asia, notably China,…

Processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat recorded severe losses in retail volume sales in 2022, and decline is set to continue in 2023, although at a slower rate, with demand being heavily affected by the cost-of-living crisis. As consumers…

Processed poultry continues to grow in volume terms across chilled, shelf stable and frozen formats. Italy is amongst the leading poultry breeders and producers in Europe, and Italian consumers are tending to increase their consumption of poultry…

Sales of processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat saw dynamic growth during the pandemic as consumers were forced to eat more meals at home, but with the health crisis now over retail volume sales are gradually stabilising. While sales are…

The demand for rice, pasta, and noodles in Austria rebounded in 2023 after retail volume sales declined sharply in 2022. As consumers looked for convenient meal solutions amidst busy lifestyles, rice, pasta, and noodles emerged as go-to options for…

Rice, pasta and noodles is feeling the impact of the war in Ukraine. Wheat prices, having surged in 2022—continuing a trend from previous difficult harvests in North America— have led to soaring retail prices of dry pasta. Despite a semblance of…

Sales of rice, pasta, and noodles saw a sharp decline in sales in retail volume terms in 2022 with only modest growth seeing seen in 2023. This can be attributed in large part to a stabilisation of demand following the dynamic growth experienced in…

Like all other categories of staple foods in Finland, rice, pasta and noodles saw a normalising trajectory in terms of the retail-foodservice volume sales split towards the end of the review period. As the threat of and restrictions related to…

Rice and pasta have both been impacted by price rises, but unlike most other areas of staple foods volume sales in these categories have continued to rise. This is largely due to the fact that these types of products can still offer value for money,…

In 2023, Germany grappled with a notable surge in the prices of fundamental food commodities, such as pasta and rice. Various factors contributed to the escalating costs, with the main ones being the conflict in Ukraine and the pervasive effects of…

Despite the energy crisis and rising inflation, pasta is witnessing robust volume and current value growth in 2023. Pasta is a relatively cheap staple food that is used to make a variety of dishes and with the cost of living crisis still in play,…

Rice, noodles and pasta saw a significant shift towards healthier options in 2023. Irish consumers increasingly sought wholewheat pasta, brown rice and quinoa noodles, reflecting growing awareness of the importance of a balanced diet and the benefits…

In recent years, the consumption of noodles in Italy has seen a notable rise in demand, both in terms of classic noodles and instant noodles. This trend can be attributed to Italian consumers’ growing appreciation of food from other culinary…

Rice prices have been on somewhat of a rollercoaster. While many agricultural commodities have shown signs of stabilisation, the supply of rice was hit hard in 2023 by India’s export ban on rice. With India looking to ensure it has enough rice to…

Pasta in Portugal is currently facing challenges due to inflation and the war in Ukraine. These factors have led to escalated raw material costs, notably cereals, and increased production expenses such as energy and packaging. The war's impact is…

After sales were negatively impacted by inflation in 2022, sales of rice, pasta, and noodles have shown more resilience in terms of volume consumption in 2023. Pasta and rice are included in the basic basket of goods in Spain and continue to be…

In 2023, sales of rice, pasta, and noodles rebounded to pre-pandemic levels as foodservice sales continued their recovery and retail sales dropped back. Additionally, unit prices saw growth due to inflation and increased production costs.

Rice, pasta, and noodles enjoyed positive performance in 2023, remaining popular staples in Switzerland. The category's enduring appeal can be attributed to the convenience it offers. With many Swiss consumers seeking quick and easy meal solutions as…

The unpackaged trend is gaining momentum with increased sales of unpackaged rice and pasta in both organic and conventional supermarkets. Retailers are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint associated with packaging, attracting…

In 2022, rice, pasta and noodles was one of the categories that faced strong price increases due to the supply chain crisis, with wheat and rice shortages putting particular pressure on production costs. Further high single-digit price increases are…

The high demand for pasta in Turkey is largely based on its practicality, especially for large households. This spiked demand at the peak of the pandemic as many consumers spent all of their time indoors. This meant that many consumers were more…

The challenging economic conditions in Austria, including inflationary pressures and fluctuating consumer purchasing power, influenced consumer spending habits and preferences in 2023. As prices rose across various categories, consumers sought more…

In the wake of a tumultuous 2022, beleaguered by soaring inflation and a difficult agricultural season, staple foods in Belgium is enjoying a period of relief in 2023. The previous year's rampant unit price increases cast long shadows, precipitating…

In 2023, the foodservice industry has shown further signs of recovery, leading to stabilised sales of staple foods, while retail sales have reverted to pre-pandemic patterns. However, due to global political and economic instability, Denmark has…

As the threat of and restrictions related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis eased and lifted towards the end of the review period, Finnish consumers were again able to move freely and resume their pre-pandemic purchasing and consumption habits. As…

Sales of staple foods have been negatively impacted by the elevated inflation that hit France in late 2022 and early 2023. As a result, the vast majority of prices went up across staple foods with volume sales either showing minimal growth or even…

In 2023, staple foods in Germany faced significant challenges marked by high price increases across various product categories. Despite these economic pressures, staple foods like pasta, rice and bread retained their indispensability in the daily…

The energy crisis and high inflation continues to impact staple foods in 2023. Consumers are trying to save money either by reducing the amount of products they buy or switching to more affordable options, including private label. Retailers are…

In 2023, packaged staple foods in Ireland saw a significant shift in consumer behaviour and industry dynamics. Traditional favourites such as potatoes, bread, meat, eggs and fish remain the most commonly consumed staple foods. However, increased…

Overall, 2023 was a challenging year for the staple foods sector in Italy, characterised by stagnation in retail sales volumes. However, the market saw considerable current value growth driven by persistent inflationary pressure. During the second…

Many producers of staple foods are facing challenges in balancing the rising cost of energy, ingredients, packaging and logistics in 2023. While the prices of many products are rising some of the leading grocery retailers have played a major role in…

Staple foods overall is recording a decline in total volume but an increase in value, primarily due to rising prices, in Portugal in 2023. The foodservice sector has recovered to its 2019 sales levels, significantly aided by tourism. However, on-site…

Staple foods in Spain has experienced stagnation in retail volume terms, albeit with a slight improvement compared to the decline seen in the previous year. The lack of movement in retail volume terms largely relates to the significant impact of…

In 2023, staple foods in Sweden witnessed several key trends, influenced by consumer preferences, economic factors, and the ongoing health and wellness movement. Staple foods, including rice, pasta, and noodles, which saw a strong uptick in demand…

In 2023, staple foods in Switzerland experienced positive growth, driven by a combination of factors. Convenience continued to be a key factor contributing to the growth of staple foods, as Swiss consumers sought quick and easy meal solutions to…

In 2023, the landscape of staple foods is marked by several key trends and factors. Volume growth is generally down as households try to buy less and save money due to squeezed incomes. This decline in volume growth is offset by value growth driven…