Western Europe

Consumer Types can be a powerful tool to help companies better understand and appeal to their target markets. By going beyond typical demographic-based segmentation, such as age or gender, and grouping consumers based on shared traits and…

The Netherlands is very much a cycling nation, with the country also boasting an efficient and affordable public transport network. However, the Netherlands is also the leader in EV charger development in Europe, with a particularly large number of…

Following rises across the review period, consumer prices saw another increase in 2024 despite the implementation of 0% VAT on essential items, including pasta, rice, canned fish, and bread. This rise positioned prices higher than at the start of…

Staple foods is expected to see continued, but more modest, current value growth in Ireland in 2024. In 2023, overall, staple foods recorded marginal gains despite strong inflationary pressures. The heightened cost of key raw materials such as wheat,…

Retail value growth on the rice, pasta, and noodles landscape was 6% in 2024. Pasta saw a solid retail value increase of 6% and noodles rose at 9%. This steady growth in both retail volume and value was supported by the rise of private label goods,…

Rice, pasta and noodles is expected to see modest current value growth in Ireland in 2024. In 2023, rice, pasta and noodles experienced dramatic cost increases due to the limited supply of durum wheat and rice. Adverse weather conditions in the US,…

In 2024, declining purchasing power is prompting consumers to shop less frequently and purchase smaller quantities to manage their budgets better. This led to a greater focus on essential products. While consumers were not abandoning key categories…

Processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat is expected to see modest current value growth in Ireland in 2024. In 2023, processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat recorded another year of strong price increases, which led overall retail…

In 2024, retail value sales of processed fruit and vegetables rose by 5%, while volume rose by 1%.

Processed fruit and vegetables is set to see current value growth in Ireland in 2024. In the previous year, the processed fruit and vegetables category recorded another year of high single-digit price increases. However, retail volume sales continued…

Economic freedom remains solid in the Netherlands, but the rise of the far-right could create stalemate within the government and perceptions of corruption have worsened. The economy is struggling to recover, owing to a weak external sector, and…

The Swiss ‘magic formula’ will ensure political stability and economic freedom is considerable, but taxes are relatively high. Modest economic recovery will be driven by private consumption and inflation is very low, but foreign investment is no…

Recent elections and delays in forming a federal government are creating political uncertainty, whilst state finances remain stretched. Although inflation has retreated, the economy will underperform peers and exposure to global trade remains high.…

Private label is becoming increasingly influential in the purchasing decisions of breakfast cereal consumers. Private label goods are aligning their product portfolios with established manufacturers, with a focus on product areas perceived as…

Breakfast cereals is set to see modest current value growth in Ireland in 2024. The previous year saw the breakfast cereals category record further strong price increases driven primarily by the limited global supply of wheat. However, volume sales…

Despite lower inflation rates, prices for baked products increased in 2024, contributing to a continued decline in retail volume consumption. Although inflation has eased somewhat, the initial price increases at the beginning of 2024 have maintained…

Baked goods is set to see stagnation in current value terms in Ireland in 2024. In the previous year, baked goods experienced another year of high single-digit price increases as inflationary pressures across the supply chain persisted. The main…

Sweet spreads is expected to see retail volume sales stagnate in Spain in 2024, while retail value sales rise in current terms. Chocolate spreads was significantly impacted by inflation in 2023, resulting in double-digit value growth but stagnation…

In sweet spread, players in Portugal are responding to growing consumer concerns regarding food waste, with both retailers and producers embracing efforts to tackle the issue. In jams and preserves, the use of irregular sized fruit is helping the…

Sweet spreads in Norway is seeing an improved performance in 2024 as the decline experienced post-pandemic is starting to subside. However, retail volume growth remains low thanks to maturity, as well as the perceived unhealthy nature of many of the…