Sweden

In 2024, retail value sales were positive in cat food, with cats being the most prevalent pet choice in the country. However, cat ownership has reached a stable phase, with the growth in adoptions showing signs of plateauing compared to the surge…

Supermarkets in Sweden were at the forefront of the battle against inflation surges in Sweden towards the end of the review period. This is unsurprising as supermarkets is the highest-value channel within grocery retailers in the country. In 2023,…

Discounters in Sweden recorded the fastest retail current value growth among grocery retailers in 2023. The lower-cost grocery retail format was able to derive benefits from the slowdown in the Swedish economy connected to unstable geopolitical…

Retail sales of sanitary protection achieved modest growth in value sales in 2023. 2023 was characterised by inflationary pressures from rising input costs, such as energy, material sourcing, distribution and labour. While inflation began to moderate…

In response to a high inflationary environment and cost-of-living pressures, households are placing a paramount focus on price value in their surface care choices. Manufacturers are addressing this by employing attribute bundling in their product…

In 2023, home insecticides in Sweden experienced a notable trend of higher retail price points. This upward shift in prices can be primarily ascribed to the escalating costs incurred by both manufacturers and retailers in the production and…

In 2023, tobacco in Sweden witnessed steady growth in retail volume and current value terms, although rates have slowed down year-on-year. Retail volume sales of cigarettes and smoking tobacco continued to plummet in Sweden, while cigars and nicotine…

Spectacles in Sweden continues to display solid retail volume and current value growth boosted by rising unit prices and inflation. The ageing population along with lifestyle changes, such as greater exposure to digital screens, is boosting demand…

Sun care in Sweden continues to bask in positive developments, fuelled by a return to travel and a warm, sunny summer in 2023. While weather fluctuations can impact consumption patterns, the overall trend towards sun protection remains strong.…

A powerful current of premiumisation is sweeping fragrances in Sweden. Consumers are increasingly drawn to niche or artisanal scents, seeking individuality and exclusivity. These unique olfactory experiences offer a way to stand out from the crowd.…

Deodorant sales in Sweden exhibited stagnation in 2023. Volume sales remained flat, with any growth in value primarily driven by inflation and a modest premiumisation trend. Deodorants are considered an essential beauty and personal care product,…

Vending in Sweden was one the channels that was heavily hit by the mobility restrictions implemented to stem the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country. When all of the COVID-19 restrictions were removed through 2022, the…

In 2023, retail value sales of wipes registered a moderate rise. Inflation drove up retail prices of wipes in 2023 as manufacturers faced rising costs from energy, raw materials and imports. Cost inflation, increased input prices, supply chain…

Significant strides have been made in incremental efficacy improvements to alleviate household chores. A notable example is the hand dishwashing brand, Yes Max Power, which claims to require four times less scrubbing on tough grease compared to its…

Writing instruments saw a decline in volume terms in 2023, following the sluggish performance of the previous year. While writing instruments remain essential in schools, they are less used in offices and universities. As technology involves,…

In 2023, the global surge in demand for LED lamps was propelled by multiple factors, creating a cohesive narrative of growth and opportunity. Initially, the momentum stemmed from the renowned energy efficiency of these products, a trait highly…

In 2023, the gardening category in Sweden experienced declining growth across categories such as fertilisers, gardening equipment, and watering products. This downturn was primarily driven by consumers postponing purchases due to the rising cost of…

The industry continues to witness a rise in retail price points, driven by inflationary pressures and increasing input costs. With inflation remaining at a high rate in 2023, households exhibit heightened price sensitivity, leading to a shift in…

The retail value of home care experienced growth in 2023, primarily driven by increasing retail price points. Conversely, when examining retail volume, home care witnessed a decline in sales throughout the year.

Retail sales of jewellery continued to expand in current value terms in 2023, although the rate of growth was slower than the previous year. Following the resurgence of family events, such as weddings, in 2022, following enforced delays due to the…

In 2023, retail volume sales of cigarettes declined marginally in Sweden. The Swedish government’s strategy to reduce the smoking rate has been successful with smoking prevalence steadily falling to a record low of 5.5% in 2023, which is extremely…

Sunglasses in Sweden is one of the most dynamic categories in eyewear. Since the post-pandemic boom in sales, volume growth slowed in 2022 and 2023, but momentum is building in 2024. The strong premiumisation trend coupled with inflation continues to…

A continued rise in retail price points is attributed to inflationary pressures driven by higher input and operational costs. With inflation remaining elevated throughout 2023, households exhibit heightened price sensitivity. This results in a shift…

Household sustainability and environmental awareness drive a demand for natural ingredient air care products. Manufacturers respond with innovations, such as the 2023 launch of Air Wick Active Fresh Room Spray, a spray/aerosol air freshener…

Eyewear in Sweden continues to display a robust performance in 2024, buoyed by an ageing population and increasing time spent on digital screens, which are both boosting the need for more specialist or value-added eyewear products. The rising…

In 2023, rising prices led to a dramatic increase in current value sales of retail tissue, as manufacturers passed on higher costs to consumers. Retail volume sales increased marginally in the year, as consumption patterns normalised given the full…

A continued upward trajectory in retail price points is evident, driven by escalating manufacturer and retailer input costs. Increased operating expenses, including material sourcing, rental levels, and salary costs, contribute to higher price…

In 2023, the homewares category in Sweden faced significant challenges as consumers delayed purchases due to the rising cost of living, driven by inflation, higher interest rates, and increased energy and food prices. Consequently, the category…

In 2024, pet products is recording positive retail value growth, driven by other pet products and pet healthcare. Supplements for large animals, such as cats and dogs, are extensively developed and easily accessible in most pet aisles. Conversely,…

In 2024, pet ownership of cats and dogs remains popular in Sweden, while other pet ownership is in decline. However, the rising number of pets purchased during COVID-19 has led to increased pet abandonment reports, consequently slowing pet food…

In 2024, dog food in Sweden is recording positive growth, with the humanisation trend driving sales of dog treats and mixers. As pet owners increasingly view their furry companions as integral parts of their families, they seek out treats and mixers…

Hair care in Sweden continues to see positive volume growth, with value further boosted by inflation and a modest premiumisation trend. Unlike other beauty and personal care categories like fragrances and skin care, hair care has not witnessed a…

Retail in Sweden continued to be affected by the challenging Swedish macroeconomic environment in 2023, characterised by negative real GDP growth and high inflation rates. The high inflationary pressure on prices especially affected groceries, but…

2023 was a great year for video games in Sweden which was mainly thanks to the successful launch of several highly popular video games titles such as Hogwarts Legacy, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Zelda. Subscription rates also rose with many gamers seeing…

Oral care in Sweden is a well-established category, experiencing stable volume growth and strong value gains in 2023. Significant volume increases are limited due to the product area's maturity. Growth is primarily driven by two factors: consumers…

Colour cosmetics in Sweden continues to flourish, demonstrating strong post-pandemic sales. While volume growth has slowed down due to market maturity, value sales remain robust. This is fuelled by a powerful premiumisation trend, a steady stream of…

Like other types of grocery retailers, hypermarkets in Sweden were impacted directly by historically high inflation, which reached high single-digit rates in 2022 and 2023. As a result, consumers became more price-sensitive and they started to look…

Following marginal decreases in retail current value sales in 2021 and 2022, direct selling in Sweden faced another difficult year in 2023. While retail current value sales rose slightly, this was due to high inflationary pressure on prices. At…

Inflation, driven by increased manufacturer input costs, is being transferred to households through elevated retail price points, placing a strain on household finances. It is evident that households are prioritising price value and seeking…

Consumer foodservice in Sweden continues to see positive current value growth in 2023, although there has been a marked slowdown compared to recent years when the pandemic recovery was taking effect. The value growth in 2023 was partly driven by the…

In Sweden, there is a strong emphasis on adopting sustainable packaging solutions in response to growing environmental concerns. Brands are introducing eco-friendly options such as the Conflex Silk packaging for bouillon cubes. The Swedish dairy…

Sales of personal accessories in Sweden continued to expand in current value terms in 2023, although the rate of growth was more modest compared to the previous year. Performance was boosted by a return to pre-pandemic lifestyles, including increased…

In 2023, the home improvement category in Sweden witnessed a notable decline, primarily attributed to the crash in the real estate market. With dwindling property demand and reduced construction activity amid an ailing economy, the housing sector…

Skin care continues to be a bright spot within beauty and personal care in Sweden in 2023. While volume growth has shown signs of slowing down after a period of rapid expansion, strong trends in premiumisation and inflation have kept value sales…

Depilatories remained a relatively uneventful category in 2023. While the continued popularity of the Estrid brand injects some innovation, overall growth is modest. Depilatory products are considered an essential item by most Swedish women, leading…

Historically high inflation rates created huge challenges for convenience retailers in Sweden towards the end of the review period. As consumers started to plan their purchases more carefully and show a preference for discounters and large format…

In 2023, the home and garden market in Sweden experienced a decline due to a decrease in consumer confidence. This, coupled with rising inflation and interest rates, contributed to a negative economic outlook. This downturn led to a reduction in the…

STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) toys remained highly popular within traditional toys and games in Sweden in 2023. This surge in popularity has been driven by parents seeking educational alternatives to screen time. Integration of…

In 2024, other pet food in Sweden is recording a decline in retail volume, while birds, fish, and small mammal food is expected to record retail value growth. This uptrend is primarily the result of rising unit prices attributed to inflation and a…

Small local grocers in Sweden form part of the very well-developed grocery retailing infrastructure in the market. However, grocery retailing continued to be dominated by major large modern retailers like ICA, Lidl, Coop and Axfood at the end of the…