The sports nutrition category dropped into negative growth territory in 2020, as gym closures and restrictions on outdoor exercise constrained demand. Sports nutrition in the Philippines is dominated by products categorised under sports protein powder and sports non-protein products. Protein/energy bars, the smallest category by far, was least affected by COVID-19 due to the convenience of these products and their widespread distribution.

Euromonitor International's Sports Nutrition in…

The ongoing COVID-19 epidemic has driven people away from gyms and traditional sports facilities, as consumers are wary of social distancing and staying safe, with gyms being viewed as a high-risk environment. As such, this will lead to a decline in value growth for the year, with gyms being retailers of sports nutrition products. Only protein/energy bars are set to record value growth in 2020, with these being widely available across grocery retailers, also benefiting from having a wider…

After performing well over the review period, sports nutrition is expected to see declining current value sales in 2020 in response to the pandemic. The main reason for this will be due to the restricted purchasing power of many consumers as a consequence of the pandemic. Furthermore, as all gyms and sports facilities were closed in March, demand for sports nutrition has dropped significantly as many people have been unable to work out from home. In contrast, those who have still been…

Sports nutrition is only one of two consumer health products that is expected to suffer current value sales decline as a result of COVID-19; the other product is weight management and wellbeing. With people’s movements restricted and outlet such as gyms (where many of the products are sold) closed for much of the year, there was little demand for sports nutrition products. In addition, the other main trade channel for sports nutrition products is through direct selling and this channel was…

The arrival of COVID-19 has understandably created much anxiety among the population, leading to a lack of sleep. Sleep is essential for maintaining our health and mood. During sleep, the immune system releases proteins called cytokines. Certain cytokines are important for fighting infections and inflammation. Sleep deprivation therefore weakens the body’s defence system and makes people more vulnerable to contracting a virus. Therefore, demand for sleep aids has been significantly higher in…

The increase in stress and disrupted sleeping patterns among consumers arising from uncertainties such possible redundancy, financial concerns, working from home adjustments and general health concerns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic boosted sales of sleep aids in the Philippines in 2020. Increased working hours due to working from home, as well as activities such increased exposure to the internet and use of technological devices, also affected the sleeping patterns of many consumers.…

The outbreak of COVID-19 is not expected to have any significant impact on sleep aids, with value growth predicted to be positive; however, an uplift in sales was not noted. Therefore, sales in sleep aids are expected to align with existing trends in the landscape, with many consumers reaching for sleep aids to treat stress-related problems. Much of this is job-related in Sweden, or due to consumers increasingly busy lifestyles. The growing use of smartphones, especially before bedtime, is…

The phenomenal growth that was recorded in pre-paid cards transactions volume and value terms for much of the review period was brought to a grinding halt by the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020. The presence of the COVID-19 virus in Vietnam and the very robust response that was adopted to the pandemic undermined the usage of the general purpose reloadable cards that dominate the category, as well as the network branded gift cards that account for almost all of the remaining pre-paid cards in…

Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the popularity of pre-paid cards was decreasing in South Korea, with a growing number of consumers preferring to pay via debit or credit card. In addition, mobile-based pre-paid cards are becoming more popular among teenage consumers unable to open debit card accounts. For instance, many parents now give their children pocket money via the Samsung Pay Pre-paid card mobile app, with Samsung Pay accepted in a huge number of retail outlets.

ALSO READ:…

As with other types of financial card in 2020, pre-paid cards were benefitting from the popular rebate programme run by the government to help encourage cashless payments during 2019-2020. Part of the government’s drive towards a cashless society, consumers were able to earn cashback on their purchases via a points system when buying goods using non-cash payment methods, including pre-paid cards.

ALSO READ:…

Demand for smoking cessation aids has been rising significantly in 2020, with volume growth set to outperform the previous year. More consumers of tobacco are focusing on maintaining a balanced diet, having enough sleep and engaging in regular physical activity to help keep their immune system healthy and reduce their chances of infection and disease. Since the arrival of COVID-19, the number of people that want to quit smoking has increased in Turkey, which has had a positive effect on an…

There has been a nationwide smoking ban in the Philippines since 2017. The regulations prohibit smoking in all public places, and is considered to be one of the strictest anti-smoking laws in South-east Asia. Those failing to comply face fines ranging from PHP500 to PHP10,000. In addition, owners of establishments selling cigarettes to minors can be fined PHP5,000 or imprisoned for up to 30 days, and also risk the cancellation of their business permits and licences. In the same year that the…

NRT smoking cessation aids is set to see a boost in sales due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Sweden, with growth moving from 2% in 2019, to a predicted double-digit growth in 2020. As the COVID-19 outbreak gained force in Sweden, highly publicised initial reports that smoking may exacerbate the illness, prompted a spike of consumer interest in NRT smoking cessation products during Q1 and Q2. As such, pharmaceutical companies reported double-digit growth rates, particularly among older and…

In 2020, herbal/traditional products is expected to see a slightly higher current value growth rate to that seen in the previous year, with COVID-19 having a real positive impact on sales of certain products, while lowering demand for others. While still expected to post modest growth, herbal/traditional digestive remedies, dermatologicals and tonics are expected to post slower current value growth in 2020 to that seen in 2019, as consumers prioritise immunity support. Herbal/traditional…

Turks are spending much more on herbal/traditional products during 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as they seek to support their immune system. Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra), which has long been used to treat infections, is being researched for its effects on immune health. Elderberry extract has been demonstrated to provide potent antibacterial and antiviral protection against bacterial pathogens responsible for upper respiratory tract infections and strains of influenza. It…

The herbal/traditional products category was growing steadily pre-COVID-19, but surged in 2020 as the pandemic took hold. This occurred as millennials prefer herbal-based products over taking medicines given the absence of a COVID-19 vaccine. Demand was also boosted by a government campaign promoting the use of coconut oil as an anti-viral cough, cold and allergy treatment. However, a shift towards chemically-based topical products was evident because consumers prefer trusted brands they…

The outbreak of COVID-19 has helped to revive interest in older or alternative methods of treatment for some consumers, looking for ways to remain healthy, with a robust immune system to fight against the virus. However, many consumers remain suspicious of products marketed as herbal/traditional, and this dampens growth, with some consumers perceiving these items to have unverifiable claims. As such, during the initial outbreak of COVID-19, consumers increasingly turned to standard products…

Herbal/traditional products accounts for significant value share in consumer health in Nigeria and is boosted further by COVID-19, with only analgesics outperforming it in terms of current value growth. The biggest product area in terms of value sales is herbal/traditional cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies, which account for more than half of value sales. It is expected to record the highest current value growth in 2020, as consumers look for medication to alleviate the symptoms…

After relatively slowed growth towards the end of the review period, herbal/traditional products will see current value sales soar in 2020 overall. In response to the health crisis, many Guatemalans have been taking greater care of their health and as natural products are commonly perceived as healthier than chemical ones, demand for herbal/traditional products has risen. Herbal/traditional sleep aids will perform notably well in 2020. Consumption has increased since the beginning of the…

Herbal traditional/products are expected to register a slight gain in value growth due to COVID-19, but not as much as other consumer health products such as analgesics. However, consumer purchasing patterns within the product area are expected to change. The best performing products area is expected to be herbal/traditional cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies, as consumer look for medication to alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 and also boost their immune system. In particular,…