The crisis in the Ukraine is still negatively impacting the apparel and footwear market in the country. Since 2014, over 30 international brands have left the country, including MEXX, Espirit and Lee Cooper. However, Ukrainian consumers are turning to locally-made apparel and footwear as a wave of patriotism sweeps over the nation. The 2014 elections were the catalyst for this national pride, and since then many talented Ukrainian designers launched production of modern, fashionable apparel with...
Jan 11, 2016•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Skandinavia er på verdenstoppen når det gjelder forbruk av saft, med en sterkere vekst i sukkerfri saft enn i de fleste andre markeder. I Norge er det spesielt to merker som driver veksten i retning av sukkerfri saft; Fun Light og ZerOH!. Med en solid posisjonering rettet mot unge kvinner, en voksende demografisk gruppe i Norge, har disse merkene hatt betydelig vekst de siste årene.
Jan 11, 2016•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast В подкасте говориться о том, какие изменения происходят в Белорусской продовольственной рознице в 2015 году. А также, о том, как местные компании реагируют на развитие онлайн формата.
Jan 05, 2016•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast The economic slowdown in Brazil directly effected the retailing industry in Brazil. Grocery retailers are currently feeling the effects of this slowdown. However, three particular channels are showing the most promise: warehouse clubs, convenience stores and internet retailing. These channels cater to convenience, which is something that Brazilian consumers aren't interested in forgoing despite weakening consumer confidence. While non-grocery retailers continue to under-perform, these three...
Jan 04, 2016•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast The recession in Finland means that people there are less likely to pay for entertainment or education, and museum visits are stagnating as a result. However, the Finnish Museums Association is looking to attract more visitors with the launch of the Museum Card. The card costs 54 euros, is valid for one year from the first use, and gets the card holder into over 200 different museums in Finland. The card is based on a similar, successful card launched in the Netherlands more than 30 years ago. A...
Jan 04, 2016•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Scandinavian countries rank among the biggest consumers of liquid concentrates in the world, with two brands driving growth towards reduced-sugar concentrates. The brands - Fun Light and ZerOH! are owned by Norwegian companies Orkla Foods and Lerum, respectively. These brands are targeting different consumer groups than competitors; going after young; health-conscious women concerned about cutting down their sugar intakes. Much to the benefit of these brands, the population of young women in Nor...
Dec 31, 2015•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast The online video streaming market is growing in several different ways. Video on-demand is the largest market, with companies like Netflix and Amazon pioneering these services. Live event streaming is also another prominent service, with music subscription services such as Spotify and even YouTube investing in streaming live concerts. Live sporting events are also prominently streamed, with Facebook streaming such events as football and boxing. Online channels are another example of the growing ...
Dec 29, 2015•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast In 2015, the food market in Belarus rapidly developed, changing from traditional brick and mortar stores to online retailing. Payment cards are being widely used in the country, and with cards comes the ease of online payments. Increasing penetration of mobile internet subscriptions also paved the way for this development. So far, Euroopt is the only company in Belarus providing internet food retail services, but the company has expanded into Russia where loyalty to Belarusian food products is h...
Dec 22, 2015•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brand owners are increasingly trying to enhance the experience for end consumers, and a number of different products have launched with ties to fashion, drinks, beauty and even foods that seek to achieve this. For instance, bottled water brand Evian is getting a brand revamp courtesy of New York designer Alexander Wang, and liquor brand Disaronno has partnered with Italian designer Roberto Cavalli. In food categories, confectionery brand Kit-Kat has launched a luxury version of its candy bar wra...
Dec 22, 2015•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast US-based fast casual operator Chipotle is under fire for food safety concerns as of late following outbreaks of E. Coli and norovirus linked to tainted food. Food safety scares usually follow a predictable pattern, but Chipotle has yet to identify exactly how and why their food supply was tainted. Its entirely possible that Chipotle has become too large to support its commitment to local sourcing and a fragmented supply chain. The company has built its entire identity around being ethical and he...
Dec 21, 2015•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sports drinks along with the wider hydration market are trending towards all-natural ingredients. Currently, this trend can be seen in coconut water, maple water, birch water and other plant waters. One trend coming to the forefront of this market is taking elements of products that are traditionally marketed towards performance athletes and marketing them towards the everyday consumer. As exercise habits continue to become more regimented, sports drinks and sports nutrition will become more mai...
Dec 16, 2015•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brazil continues to be effected by the economic recession, however the category of food intolerance has increased in terms of sales and number of products launched. Food intolerance products are still considered niche in Brazil but are gaining popularity, with innovations in lactose-free yoghurt, cheese and other dairy products leading the way. Dairy manufacturers rely on this innovation to draw attention away from competition while simultaneously distributing to previously untouched rural areas...
Dec 15, 2015•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Challenges abound for the tourism industry in Africa, with the effects of Ebola and national security still plaguing some countries. That being said, there are positive trends coming from the region. Improved travel websites, booking sites and online travel agencies are all a result of improved internet infrastructure and mobile phone penetration in the country. Many countries are also looking to diversify their travel offerings with new hotels, and airline routes are also increasing in the regi...
Dec 14, 2015•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast B2B services that cater to institutional channels are will continue to consolidate in 2016, both in terms of supply-chain rationalization and simply providing a full suite of professional services. This consolidation is born out of price cutting measures - multinational companies can obviously compete on price due to their scale, and in some cases these companies have become vertically integrated to help cut prices as well. Local players may very well be consolidated into larger companies in the...
Dec 11, 2015•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast On December 7th, 2015, GE announced that it terminated the agreement to sell its appliances division to Electrolux due to objections from the US Justice Department. LG, Samsung and Arçelik all expressed interest in the appliances division back in 2014, so GE may attempt to court one of these potential buyers. Arçelik could be the favorite, as it doesn't have a large foothold in North America and is least likely to attract attention from the Justice Department. Meanwhile, Electrolux may focu...
Dec 10, 2015•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Over 2009 to 2014, the European telecommunications industry was the only region in the world that did not grow, meaning the area is badly in need of some reforms. Severe fragmentation plagues the industry in Europe as each European country has typically 3 to 4 companies. Tie this in with inconsistent regulation, and generally each telecom environment vastly varies by region. Consolidation is a key trend to follow in the industry at the moment, but only happens inside of each country's borde...
Dec 09, 2015•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Incepand cu 1 iunie 2015, valoarea TVA a fost redusa in Romania de la 24% la 9% pentru toate produsele alimentare, bauturile non-alcoolice, serviciile de alimentatie publica si berea la halba. Dupa scaderea TVA, consumul local a inregistrat o consolidare, preturile mai mici lasand in buzunarele cumparatorilor mai multi bani care au fost cheltuiti pe cantitati mai mari de alimente si alte produse. Comertul local per ansamblu a beneficiat si de modificarea preferintelor cumparatorilor maghiari car...
Dec 08, 2015•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dec 07, 2015•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Like many other tissue and hygiene companies, SCA is facing an increasingly challenging and complex marketplace. In order to remain competitive, SCA is perusing different strategies including mergers, acquisitions and portfolio realignment. In China, SCA's relationship with Vinda continues to grow, allowing for SCA to expand into rural areas and smaller towns. In November 2015, SCA announced it will expand further with Vinda into Southeast Asia, Taiwan and South Korea. In North America, SCA...
Dec 04, 2015•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast On June 1, the VAT was decreased in Romania for all food products, non-alcoholic drinks, foodservice and draught beer. After the VAT was decreased, domestic consumption consolidated, and lower retail prices left more money in consumer's pockets that was spent on higher quantities of food and other products. Romania's overall economy also benefited, as Hungarians continue to come into Romania for food shopping. Although the positive impact of the VAT decrease is easy t o see in grocery ...
Dec 03, 2015•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast In mid-November 2015, the FDA in the United States approved the first genetically modified animal for human consumption when a genetically modified salmon achieved regulatory status. The announcement was met with an almost immediate uproar from opponents of genetic modification. In America, genetic modification is generally concentrated within the realm of cash crops such as soybeans, corn, canola and cotton seeds. The case of salmon, however, marks a departure from the issues generally surround...
Dec 02, 2015•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Spotřeba sladkých a slaných snacků v České republice zaostává za západoevropským průměrem, z toho důvodu lze říci, že kategorie snacků má na českém trhu růstový potenciál. Přestože obsah tuků, kalorií či soli zůstane vysoký, snacky mohou být vnímány jako zdravější potravina a to z důvodu zlepšení kvality výrobního procesu nebo ingrediencí. Je to tedy vyšší kvalita a marketing zdravější či přidané hodnoty, jenž budou stimulovat poptávku českých spotřebitelů. Druhým vysledovaným trendem je uvední ...
Dec 02, 2015•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast China has been gradually growing into a mobile retail powerhouse due to its massive population and the growing affordability of smartphones. The country has led the world in mobile subscriptions for some time now, and in 2011 China overtook the US in smartphone sales by units. Naturally, the value of the mobile retailing space in China is now the largest in the world. Many of the world's top internet retailers are now interested in the country, including Amazon - which is already in China -...
Dec 02, 2015•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast The e-commerce landscape in emerging Asia is extremely dynamic. The young, tech-savvy population, growing disposable income and wider internet connectivity make the region extremely attractive for any online retail business. The tech start-up scene has undergone many changes in the region, helped by a burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit and the availability of venture capital. In some markets, local online retailers dominate and global players such as Amazon and eBay have made little headway. Desp...
Nov 24, 2015•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sweet and savory snacks consumption is generally low in the Czech Republic when compared by Western European standards, therefore, there is potential for growth for this category in the country. Health awareness in the Czech Republic is impacting consumption of snacks that are high in fat, calories and salt, so an introduction of healthier snacks could grow the category. There is also a potential to launch new and exotic snack flavors as more consumers in the Czech Republic are travelling and ac...
Nov 24, 2015•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this edition of the commodities roundup, An Hodgson discusses the global energy market, metals and soft commodities. Energy Market Energy prices rose for the first time in five months in October, driven by high crude oil prices. On the other hand, natural gas and coal continue to decline in price in October. Oil prices will likely continue to rise, as the possibility of an increase Western military presence in the Middle East is almost assured in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Pa...
Nov 23, 2015•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Omni-Channel shopping is a key word in the fashion and retailing industries, meaning that consumers no longer use a single channel to shop. Rather, consumers are likely to open a web browser to look at an item, visit a store to see it in person, and then may end up purchasing that same item on their mobile phones. Therefore, brands and retailers are increasingly investing in digital strategies in order to create touch points with consumers along their buying process. Two trends that have emerged...
Nov 23, 2015•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Black Friday, the shopping day in the US after Thanksgiving, conjures up images of doorbuster deals and packed stores. In this podcast, Euromonitor explains this year's Black Friday strategies from three different perspectives: retailing, toys and games and apparel and accessories. Retailing This year, many retailers chose to release their Black Friday deals early in an effort to make things simpler for consumers. Wal-Mart, for instance, are pushing back on doorbuster deals, choosing instea...
Nov 17, 2015•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Euromonitor International and Nation’s Restaurant News identified the top 25 international foodservice operators outside North America. This list is based on system-wide sales, corporate revenue, unit metrics and market share statistics. The importance of Japanese companies in this list is striking, especially considering that three of the top 25 are Japanese convenience store chains: 7-Eleven, Lawson and Family Mart. These companies will continue to expand across the globe, especially in southe...
Nov 17, 2015•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Economic conditions in different world regions and countries will impact how consumers spend their money this holiday season. Consumers in North America, Europe and some part of the Asia-Pacific region are approaching this holiday season with a more positive outlook than consumers in Latin America. As the holiday buying season becomes continually stretched, online shopping records will most likely be broken. However, at the same time, there are interesting counter-trends as many consumers look t...
Nov 16, 2015•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
