Belgium

In 2023, Belgium’s economy slowed but still outperformed Western Europe’s average, driven by private and public spending, and a strong services sector. However, projections for 2024 suggest a further deceleration and a widening budget deficit.…

Sales of pet products are expected to record moderate growth in value terms in 2024. Pet products continue to grow in value in Belgium, as inflation has also hit these types of products causing price rises. However, many owners have reduced the…

Despite a slowdown in the Belgian pet population, the pet care industry continues to benefit from an increase in food volume growth and a moderate increase especially of cats and dogs. The population slowdown has been consistent since the aftermath…

The value sales of other pet food in Belgium are set to rise in 2024. However, the populations of reptiles, birds and fish continue to drop as the cost of housing and looking after these animals has risen over the previous couple of years. The…

Value sales of dog food in Belgium are expected to rise in 2024. Despite inflationary measures, increased prices, and a higher dog abandonment rate than in previous years, the dog population is still growing, albeit at more moderate levels than in…

Sales of cat food are expected to register a moderate rise in value terms in 2024. The cat population in Belgium continues to rise albeit at a slower rate than the rate seen in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. However,…

Following two years of double-digit volume sales growth, sun care in Belgium registered a decline in volume sales. This was not only related to price increases, but also the relatively bad summer in 2023 compared to 2022. The lack of warm weather and…

Price rises and the high cost of living in Belgium curbed demand for skin care in 2023. At the same time, trends such as clean beauty and natural beauty remained highly relevant. This resulted in a contraction of volume sales, as consumers purchased…

In 2023, premium beauty and personal care products in Belgium registered a negative performance in volume terms, while value growth rose at a pace. Inflation generated strong price rises in 2023 compared to 2022, with purchasing power remaining under…

The maturity of oral care in Belgium had a negative impact, with volume sales declining over the review period. Many consumers remained increasingly price-sensitive and cautious with their spending in 2023, further dampening retail volume sales.…

Men’s grooming in Belgium is feeling the pressure of a general shift away from the clean-shaven look and rising demand for sustainable options. Retail volume sales of men's shaving continued its downward trajectory in 2023. The rising cost of living…

In 2023, the financial constraints faced by consumers due to the rising costs of living in Belgium pushed many individuals towards more affordable mass beauty and personal care products. Restrictions on promotions, brought forth by the new EU Omnibus…

Hair care in Belgium saw further decline in volume sales over 2023, as consumers remained conservative in their expenditure. Energy and heating costs were still high, and many consumers chose to shower less and use less shampoo. Indeed, shampoo is…

Inflation remained high in 2023 leading to significant price increases in the fragrance industry and placing further pressure on consumer budgets. This, in turn, led to strong value sales growth of fragrances in 2023, while volume sales of fragrances…

Depilatories remain at the core of women’s personal care routines in Belgium and are considered an essential product. Despite retail price inflation, volume sales of depilatories remained resilient and did not decrease to the same degree as other…

Despite price increases and the squeeze on consumer budgets, demand for deodorants in Belgium remained steady with only a marginal decline in volume sales in 2023. Moreover, deodorants witnessed a relatively better performance in volume terms than…

In 2023, colour cosmetics in Belgium registered volume sales decline following a buoyant performance in the previous year. Prices rose more significantly in 2023, compared to 2022, resulting in lower consumption levels. Moreover, consumers were…

Inflation remained a pressing issue for Belgian consumers in 2023 with economic uncertainty and financial anxiety exacerbated by high heating and energy costs. As consumer purchasing power declined, retail volume sales of beauty and personal care…

In 2023, retail price inflation had a strong impact on bath and shower in Belgium. Volume sales buckled amid weaker demand as consumers faced higher energy and heating costs, with many choosing to shower less frequently. In key categories such as…

Baby and child-specific products in Belgium benefitted somewhat from the spike in birth rates during the COVID-19 pandemic years, which resulted in a broader consumer base for manufacturers to target. On the negative side, retail price inflation has…