Australia

Demand for consumer appliances started to cool in 2022 following two years of strong growth due to the pandemic and stay-at-home lifestyles. Retail volume decline was primarily caused by reduced demand for small appliances as consumers shifted their…

The pandemic placed downward pressure on sales of many writing instruments over 2020-21 in Australia with the exception of colouring. Demand during this period was eroded by lockdowns, trading restrictions and the shift towards remote working and…

After a difficult first half of the company’s financial year, marred by COVID-19 disruptions, Woolworths ended its 2022 financial year with momentum, with like-for-like sales in its flagship Australian food division hitting 5% growth in the June…

Demand for jeans continued to rise in 2022, as this type of apparel offers a broad range of prices and styles to meet local consumers’ needs. Jeans are a staple item in many Australians’ wardrobes and in 2022, the category benefitted from its…

Although emerging from the worst of the pandemic, 2022 has brought more problems for consumers and producers alike, with further instability and uncertainty. Starting with the continued impact of COVID-19 on the global supply chain, logistics costs…

Inflation has become a challenge for Australians, largely driven by government stimulus during the pandemic, supply chain constraints caused by border closures, as well as the more recent impact of the war in Ukraine. The latter caused a significant…

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered the way in which consumers shop and how retailers adapt to change. As a result of the pandemic, consumers began to shop differently, and a shift was seen in the way businesses operated. Some new service…

Wesfarmers remained the largest player in hypermarkets in 2022, with its Target and Kmart fascias. In its 2021 financial year, 75 Target stores were closed, and 92 locations were converted into Kmart outlets in a bid to make the brand more…

Aldi spotted a gap in grocery retail in Australia, and entered the market with its discounters model in 2001. The company expanded rapidly. By mid-2003 it had 44 stores in New South Wales and Victoria. By 2011, it had 251 stores. By early 2013 it had…

Refrigeration appliances in Australia started to experience greater normalisation of demand in 2022 after the exceptional growth recorded by the category in the previous two years. Volume sales slowed in 2022, recording a weaker performance compared…

After a surge in microwave sales in 2020 followed by slower retail volume growth in 2021, demand further cooled in 2022 as life in Australia returned to greater levels of normality in line with mobility outside of the home and local consumers…

Convenience and variety in flavour remain central themes for baked goods in Australia as local consumers continue to prepare a greater proportion of meals at home and search for low-cost convenience foods to achieve this. Convenience remains key for…

2022 marked the start of a post-pandemic recovery in Australia, with no further lockdowns and most COVID-19 restrictions ending or being significantly reduced. However, there were other challenges for consumer foodservice to address, which limited…

Dishwasher sales recorded steady growth over much of the review period, primarily due to Australia's booming renovation market, encouraging local consumers to invest more in their homes. With the gradual resumption of normal lifestyles in 2022 as…

Demand for personal accessories in Australia started to improve in 2022 due to an increase in inbound tourism and the reopening of physical stores as restrictions in the country were eased. However, volume sales growth was undynamic due to ongoing…

Demand for womenswear continued to increase in Australia in 2022, with local consumers emerging out of lockdowns with greater interest in updating their current wardrobes. This resulted in womenswear’s retail volume and value sales fully recovering…

Although emerging from the worst of the pandemic, 2022 has brought more problems for consumers and producers alike, driving further instability and uncertainty. COVID-19 has continued to have an impact on the global supply chain; therefore, logistics…

Remote and hybrid working models have become the “new normal” since lockdown restrictions were fully lifted in Australia. The pandemic has significantly changed consumption patterns and habits for a number of Australians over the past two years. With…

Restaurants across Australia and New Zealand are being encouraged to sign on to a new set of standards that aim to provide better welfare for chickens raised for meat, after the Agriculture Department of Australia released new standards of practice…

Food and beverage macro-trends have drastically evolved since the pandemic, bringing about a wave of change in where consumers shop and work, and how they eat. More time spent at home has changed consumers’ cooking and dining habits, as they…