United Kingdom

Although it remains a much smaller pack type in unit volume terms, flexible paper continues to take share from the dominant packaging format of flexible plastic in countlines, as consumers increasingly opt for sustainable packaging options. This…

Overall, there is set to be a decline in consumer appliances in retail volume terms at the top level in 2023. This comes as a result of declines in both major and small appliances. Major appliances is, however, expected to experience a much stronger…

Numerous consumers have increased their reliance on credit to enable them to afford higher retail prices in 2023, as the UK economy has continued to be impacted by high inflation and the rising cost of living. As a result, card lending is set to…

After an upturn in demand during the pandemic followed by a notable decline in 2022, retail volume sales of consumer electronics in the UK are starting to stabilise in 2023. Significant investments were made in 2020-2021, with many consumer…

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…

Consumer health continues to experience high retail current value growth in 2023, albeit at a slower rate than 2022. Higher costs of materials, ingredients and services are naturally leading to strong price increases in 2023, thereby driving up value…

In comparison with Eurozone countries, the UK economy has continued to be impacted by high inflation and the soaring cost of living in 2023. While rising electricity and gas prices drove inflation in 2022, they have been gradually decreasing in 2023,…

Contact lenses in the UK are set to deliver solid single-digit volume and current value growth over 2024, which will make it the most dynamic performer in eyewear (in terms of volume growth). After the decline that resulted from the pandemic in 2020,…

Despite price increases as a result of inflation that continued to drive the local population to adopt more conscious spending patterns in 2023, convenience retailers in the UK maintained a positive trajectory during the year as proximity and…

The lingering effect of the inflationary wave from 2022, exacerbated by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, has resulted in continued economic pressures. Moreover, cooking ingredients and meals is dealing with the consequences of climate change,…

Current value sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in 2022 as the UK experienced its strongest cold and flu season in recent years, as a result of greater socialising as restrictions eased, thereby…

In 2022, there was double-digit growth in terms of credit card spending for both personal and commercial credit cards. High inflation and the rising cost of living, which have also been affecting Britons in 2023, were amongst the main causes. In…

The UK’s dairy packaging market is dominated in unit volume terms by HDPE bottles and thin wall plastic containers. HDPE bottles dominate milk packaging, and are also gaining share in yoghurt, due to their robust barrier credentials. Milk is a…

The dairy industry in the UK is being severely impacted by the lingering effects of the pandemic, and political, social and economic challenges. Firstly, Brexit continues to hamper import and export operations between the UK and European markets,…

In 2023, debit cards remains the preferred and most widely used payment method, increasing from the previous year in terms of the number of cards in circulation, as well as the volume and retail value of transactions. However, this growth is set to…

Volume sales of deodorants in the UK rose for a second consecutive year in 2023. According to Euromonitor International’s Voice of the Consumer: Beauty Survey (fielded June to July 2022), 34.5% of UK participants indicated that hygiene and…

Depilatories in the UK recorded a rise in value sales for a second consecutive year in 2023. Women's razors and blades, which recorded 3% value growth, was the main driver behind this performance, although this was mostly driven by inflation and…

Demand for hair loss treatments is declining in 2023 following strong growth in recent years as COVID-19 and subsequent inflationary pressure boosted prevalence of hair loss due to stress and anxiety. Although the latter remains an overbearing issue…

Women’s health has become a key brand focus for players in 2023, across a range of consumer health categories, particularly dietary supplements. Regarded by many as a theme rather than category or positioning, the concept is influencing activity and…