United Kingdom

Overall large cooking appliances is set to see a decline in volume terms in 2023. This is due to the expectation of solid volume declines across the board, with the strongest falls expected for categories such as built-in hobs, built-in cooker hoods,…

An overall decline is expected in volume sales of microwaves in 2023. This is the result of expected declines for both built-in and freestanding microwaves. Of the two, built-in microwaves is set to see the stronger volume decline in 2023, given that…

Personal care appliances is expected to see a marginal overall decline in retail volume terms in 2023. Body shavers, electric facial cleansers, and hair care appliances are all anticipated to experience sales declines in 2023. Body shavers intended…

Refrigeration appliances is set to see a significant overall volume decline in 2023. This comes as a result of the poor performance of freezers, fridge-freezers, and fridges. Reasons for the continued volume decline in refrigeration appliances…

In 2023, RTD coffee is set to experience strong double-digit growth in off-trade current value and volume terms. For several years now, RTD coffee has benefited from growing popularity and a surge in demand. This is due to several factors, including…

Following strong positive performances in 2021 and 2022, ready to drink (RTD) tea is set to continue to experience double-digit growth in current value sales both off-trade and on-trade in 2023. Due to a longer and warmer summer in 2022, RTD tea…

A small decline is expected in overall small cooking appliances in volume terms in 2023. This category experienced a sharp spike in growth in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, as home seclusion led many consumers to develop a passion for cooking,…

Despite inflation, total volume sales of soft drinks have remained resilient in the United Kingdom. 2022 and 2023 have been challenged by increasing prices, which have had a significant impact on the cost of living. Consumers have lost purchasing…

After experiencing significant off-trade and on-trade volume and current value growth in 2021 and 2022, sports drinks is set to continue to experience dynamic growth in 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the health and wellness trend, which…

Vacuum cleaners is set to see a small overall decline in volume terms in 2023. The category experienced a large surge in growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many consumers replaced their vacuum cleaner or purchased an additional one, given…

Eggs in the UK continue to be impacted by rising unit prices, driven by escalating production costs and supply challenges that are notably affecting consumption levels. Egg producers are already contending with narrow profit margins, and the soaring…

Fish and seafood is traditionally considered one of the more expensive protein options in the UK, and this perception is taking a toll on volume sales. As the cost-of-living crisis persists, local consumers are seeking ways to stretch their budgets,…

2023 has presented considerable challenges and complexities for fresh food in the UK. Families are increasingly turning away from traditional staples such as fresh meat, fresh fruits, and vegetables due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. This…

Fruits in the UK are experiencing persistently high input costs, impacting their overall consumption. Despite the recommendations for higher fruit consumption, local consumers are struggling to meet these targets. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis…

Meat in the UK continues to see persistent inflationary pressures stemming from higher production costs, particularly in the areas of animal feed and energy. This has spilled down to consumers in the form of increased unit prices, combined with a…

Most fresh food categories were negatively impacted by extreme weather conditions in the UK and other countries over 2022 and 2023, which fluctuated between extreme heat and droughts and very wet climates. However, this was not the case for nuts, as…

In 2023, retail demand for pulses in the UK continues to grow. As meat, fish and other animal proteins are increasing in price due to inflation and the rising cost of living, local consumers are looking for cheaper sources of protein, and one of…

Extreme weather conditions in 2022 and 2023 have had an impact on the production of starchy roots in the UK and around the world. Droughts and hot weather occurred in 2022, while a wet spring and summer delayed the campaign for starchy roots in 2023.…

Following two consecutive years of double-digit declines, retail volume sales of sugar and sweeteners continue to fall in 2023. Droughts caused the cultivation campaign to be delayed in 2022, which negatively impacted sugar beet production.…

Retail volume sales of vegetables in the UK continue to decline in 2023, primarily due to severe product shortages. For instance, there was a major shortage of vegetables in February and March 2023. For several weeks, products such as tomatoes,…

Recycling, and reducing food waste and plastics are all top priorities amongst British consumers, which has led to a large percentage being Zero Wasters. However, many are despondent given that two thirds worry about climate change, whilst less than…

2023 presented quite a mixed picture for the cannabis industry in the UK. While growth continued, there was also a modification regarding the future expectations of development within the local market. In CBD & other non-intoxicating cannabinoids,…

Bags and luggage is set to maintain growth in both retail volume and current value terms in the UK in 2023. Although volume sales are expected to increase in most categories, it is significant to note that luggage is anticipated to see the…

The shift in consumer preference towards preferring experiences, and products that provide experiences, such as travelling, or purchasing a home, rather than owning things, is continuing to have a negative impact on sales of jewellery in the UK.…

Personal accessories is anticipated to keep expanding in retail volume terms in the UK in 2023, due to continued indulgence amongst consumers in the country, as well as the resurgence and growth of inbound tourism. While sales are also anticipated to…

After disruption to sales due to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, traditional watches resumed its pre-pandemic slow and steady declining trend in volume terms in 2022, a trend which is set to continue in 2023. Indeed, in 2023, every category within…

The return to normal life following COVID-19 is anticipated to continue benefiting writing instruments in 2023, particularly due to the return of regular school attendance. For instance, products such as ball point pens, and especially markers and…

The UK’s packaging industry is currently influenced by two prominent trends. Firstly, the widespread use of flexible plastic packaging, especially in areas like cheese packaging, which is being driven by its cost-effectiveness, convenience and…

2023 proved to be another challenging year for cafés/bars in the UK. While overall value growth was evident, this was predominantly due to consumers paying higher prices rather than due to a sizeable number of outlets opening or a significant…

The waning impact of the pandemic and greater mobility outside of the home have positively impacted consumer spending in travel and leisure locations. According to Euromonitor International, inbound arrivals in the UK rose by 20% in 2023 to 37…

With the impact of the pandemic waning in the UK, it was hoped that 2023 would be a year where the consumer foodservice industry made significant steps to recover to pre-pandemic levels. However, in terms of transactions and outlet numbers, this did…

In 2023, full-service restaurants were able to open without any related pandemic restrictions, with COVID-19 no longer a major concern for local consumers. However, extremely high operating costs amid the cost-of-living crisis meant that any ongoing…

Limited-service restaurants continued to record substantial current value growth in 2023, although the number of transactions and outlets remained stagnant. This was due to multiple factors as the economic environment in the UK continued to struggle,…

Self-service cafeterias continued to record a positive performance in terms of value sales and transactions in 2023, despite the closure of some chained outlets, such as House of Fraser and Asda. Self-service cafeterias continued to experience a…

The popularity of street stalls/kiosks has emerged from a shift in consumer preferences towards variety, innovation, authenticity, and casual dining. Overall, 2023 was a positive year for street stalls/kiosks with double- digit current value growth.…

Air care was one of the top performers in home care in 2023, recording the third highest retail value growth after surface care and home insecticides. In terms of volume, the only formats experiencing volume declines were gel air fresheners and car…

Bleach continued to register declining retail volume sales in 2023, with overall demand falling in comparison to previous years, as UK consumers are favouring multipurpose cleaners with disinfectant properties. Due to the cost-of-living crisis,…

Dishwashing in the UK recorded strong single-digit value growth in current terms in 2023, owing to the continued dynamic performance of automatic dishwashing tablets. The latter’s growth is mainly because using a dishwasher is deemed more convenient,…

While demand for home care continued to decline marginally in 2023, overall retail volume sales remained above pre-pandemic levels, as certain habits have persisted in the UK. The explanation for this decline is two-fold: greater mobility has seen…

Demand for home insecticides in the UK remained relatively stable in 2023, but very undynamic, as many of these products are considered to be of relatively little importance to consumers. Home insecticides are very season-dependent, as flying insects…

Laundry care experienced growth in both retail volume and current value terms in the UK in 2023. Greater demand was driven by greater mobility, as consumers have returned to their normal lives. Alongside consumers needing to wash their clothes more…

Demand for polishes in the UK continued to decline in 2023, in line with the category’s general pre-pandemic trend. The ongoing decline continues to be exacerbated by greater mobility outside of the home, as consumers spend more time in the office or…

The pandemic increased consumers’ hygiene awareness, leading to a surge in sales of surface care in 2020, when COVID-19 first emerged. Demand for surface care has continued to be strong since, with 2023 seeing higher sales than pre-pandemic levels,…

Demand for toilet care products continued to decline significantly in 2023. The reasons for this decline are twofold: consumers are spending less time at home and thus have less time to focus on cleaning their houses, and secondly, multipurpose…

The away-from-home channel in the UK experienced strong value growth in tissue and hygiene in 2023, with both categories growing by over 10%, albeit at marginally slower rates than the previous year. Value growth for away-from-home hygiene was partly…

Menstrual care in the UK experienced growth in both volume and value terms in 2023. Continuing on from its strong performance in 2022, the category’s current value growth in high single digits was only marginally below the previous year. As inflation…

Nappies/diapers/pants in the UK experienced positive retail volume growth in 2023 across the category. These products are deemed essential, ensuring stable demand, despite prices soaring. However, with birth rates in the UK gradually falling, growth…

Retail adult incontinence in the UK continued to record a dynamic performance in 2023. Overall demand for these products was based on several different factors, such as an ageing consumer base, increasing awareness, and greater availability in terms…

Inflationary pressures in 2023 marginally eased when compared to the previous year, but continued to exert strong influence on demand for retail tissue in the UK. Sales mostly rebounded in the second half of 2023, although not sufficiently to avoid…

Rx/reimbursement adult incontinence in the UK continued to record volume declines in 2023. The category has been in decline for many years in the local market, with consumers shifting towards retail adult incontinence as the availability and…