Euromonitor Podcasts

The global commodities market saw volatility throughout December 2013 and into 2014, a trend expected to continue well into the year. Salmon saw a huge price rise in December 2013 due to poor weather in Norway, one of the world’s largest salmon exporters, and a high demand in the eurozone. These factors created a 23.5 percent rise in salmon prices. In hard commodities, a lull in industrial activit...

Зимние Олимпийски Игры несомненно оказывают влияние на различные сферы жизни страны. В подготовку Зимних Олимпийских Игр в Сочи Россия инвестировала огромные финансовые средства, которые, по словам старшего аналитика Виталия Владыкина, вряд ли окупятся в краткосрочной перспективе. Но с другой стороны, Олимпийские Игры помогут Сочи продемонстрировать свои возможности всему миру, а успех национально...

Russia invested a massive US$60 Billion into the preparation of the 2014 Winter Olympics games.  The country is unlikely to see a return on its investment. However, Russia may exit the Olympics with a better international image if the games go well as incoming travelers will be greeted with up-to-date transportation, hotel accommodations and attractions. Companies such as Proctor and Gamble, Samsu...

Who controls the consumer conversation? Once dominated by a few major brands and categories, the global soft drinks industry has seen a steady fragmentation in both consumer spending and consumer attention. With so much choice, however, comes growing demand for a guiding hand in beverage choices, a role more and more retailers and foodservice operators are happy to play.  Lots of brands claim to b...

The ‘Fragile Five’, a term coined by Morgan Stanley, are five countries expected to be hit the hardest by the US Federal Reserve taper -  Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey. Sarah Boumphrey, Head of Countries and Consumers research at Euromonitor, states that grouping all these economies together gives a false impression they will be similarly affected by the taper. Even though econ...

2014 will be a defining year for the luxury goods industry, states Fflur Roberts, Head of Global Luxury Goods Research at Euromonitor. The US will lead the way in growing the luxury goods market, fueled by the fastest economic growth in two years. Middle class confidence is expected to return to the country and many consumers whom abandoned luxury goods are expected to return to the industry.  Lot...

Flavored bottled water, which was historically marketed to young female consumers in Chile, is discontinuing its segmented marketing strategy and adopting a gender-neutral status. High obesity rates in Chile are giving consumers a new healthy mindset, and more men are buying flavored bottled water regardless of label colour or product name in an effort to drink healthier beverages. Therefore, comp...

El agua embotellada saborizada que era comercializada a las mujeres jóvenes en Chile, está dejando de lado el marketing dirigido hacia las mujeres y adoptando una postura neutral en cuanto al género. Las altas tasas de obesidad en Chile están dándole a los consumidores una nueva mentalidad saludable y más hombres están comprando agua saborizada sin importar el color de la etiqueta o el nombre del...

Many operators in the US and Europe report online sales account for between 20-40 percent of delivery transactions, therefore operators are continually seeking innovation in the digital space. For example, Pizza Hut recently reported its branded app for the Xbox 360 gaming console generated USD$1,000,000 in the four months since its launch. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Domino’s P...

Arabica green coffee beans dropped to their lowest price in seven years in 2013, states Dana LaMendola, Beverages Industry Analyst at Euromonitor. Arabica coffee beans are usually harvested in a two year cycle, with one year yielding a much larger crop than the other. Considerable progress has been made to streamline the process and in 2013 the harvest was larger than anticipated, meaning supply o...

Global expenditure saw modest growth in 2013, hampered by the US sequestration, the Federal Reserve taper and the economic downturn in the eurozone. There are several initiatives in place helping consumer spending regain traction in 2014 such as Japan’s quantitative easing policy, which An Hodgson, Income and Expenditure Manager at Euromonitor, says will have a positive impact on the global econom...

In 2013, global packaging volumes in beauty and home care saw a new increase by 3%. A major driving force behind this growth is undoubtedly the rise in income levels in developing regions such as Asia Pacific and Latin America. Overall, key trends which are set to shape beauty and home packaging markets to 2018 will include consumer demand for functionality and environmental ethics; yet Karine Dus...

Euromonitor International’s Cities research team identified seven key global cities they consider the best markets for business expansion. These cities were chosen for their rapidly growing income levels, expanding population size, improving demographic situations and decreasing unemployment levels. Listen to the podcast to find out which seven cities are included in the list. Lots of brands claim...

Doug McMillon is set to replace Mike Duke as the CEO of Walmart on February 1, 2014. McMillon has been with Walmart for over 25 years, and Raphael Moreau, Retailing Analyst at Euromonitor does not expect McMillon to make any drastic changes following the switch. The company faces numerous challenges in the upcoming months, including stagnant growth in the US market due to consumers leaving for dol...

Согласно данным Euromonitor International , российский косметический рынок является одним из наиболее близких к стагнации. По итогам 2012 года рост рынка в денежном выражении не превысил 6 процентов. Однако, по словам аналитика Анастасии Гончаровой на российском рынке косметики и парфюмерии видны новые тенденции. Одна из них - так называемые бьюти-блоги, где блоггеры активно делятся впечатлениями...

Beauty blogs offer people the opportunity for people to share their impressions of certain beauty products online; such blogs are gaining rabid popularity in Russia. Many Russians cannot afford to spend money on luxury beauty items only to find that they do not like the product, therefore the most popular beauty blogs focus strictly on reviews of luxury items. Manufacturers and retailers are takin...

American foodservice chain Buffalo Wild Wings recently switched its soft drink provider from Coca-Cola to Pepsi. This move is not just about the soft drinks available at the chain, but about gaining access to Pepsi’s diverse packaged food offerings. The possibilities for product innovation at Buffalo Wild Wings are now immense and may include items such as Dorito’s encrusted chicken wings. Michael...

The Danish government recently introduced restrictions on pack sizes for over-the-counter analgesics. Packs that used to contain as many as 300 pills are now restricted to no more than 20. The restrictions are a means to curb the suicide rate in Denmark, as overdosing on analgesics is a sadly common method amongst young women. Analgesic manufactures welcomed the restrictions, and negative press fo...

Urbanisation is one of the most important demographic trends, states Media Eghbal, Country Insight Managing Editor at Euromonitor International. The world is experiencing the fastest urbanisation rate in history due to agricultural automation and rural consumers looking for better opportunities in large cities. Urbanisation brings challenges including pollution, traffic congestion and a strain on...

Euromonitor has identified a group of frontier markets rivalling the BRICs in terms of investment potential and booming luxury goods markets: Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Mexico, Thailand and South Africa. Although these countries only make up around four percent of total luxury spend worldwide as of 2013, that number is expected to grow in the upcoming years. Lots of brands claim to be number one...

Fast fashion retailer H&M is expanding into premium territory in an effort to compete with rival retailer Zara. Historically, Zara has been seen by consumers as a more premium brand able to charge higher prices. To advance its premium venture, H&M is partnering with world-famous fashion designers and is pushing its own design expertise during events like Paris Fashion Week. Ashma Kunde, Ap...

The proposed plain packaging law in the UK, previously turned down, is now back in play. An academic review of plain packaging has begun, examining Australia’s success with the law. Shane MacGuill, Tobacco Industry Analyst at Euromonitor, expects a similar law to be passed in the UK before the next election in 2015. Now that plain packs are back on the agenda in the country, worldwide discussion i...

La tasa de natalidad en Chile es la segunda más baja de Latinoamérica después de Cuba. En 2013, el mercado de pañales en este país será aproximadamente 3% menor en términos de volumen que lo que registró en 2012. David Mackinson, Analista en Euromonitor analiza esta particularidad del mercado apuntando hacia una premiumización y hacia el crecimiento de otro sector; los pañales para adultos. Lots o...

Birth rates are slowing in Chile, and as a result the market for diapers is slowing with manufacturers of diapers finding new ways to target consumers in the country. As the population gets older, there is a greater focus on adult incontinence products typically produced by the same companies manufacturing infant diapers. Also, premiumisation is a huge trend in Chile, and companies are manufacturi...

The Chinese government is prioritising research and development, granting double the amount of patents over the 2007 to 2012 period. The country has the highest number of science graduates in the world, a title it has held since 2004. With the economy in the US still recovering and the crisis in the eurozone, the possibility exists for China to become the world’s next innovation hub. Lots of brand...