Large-scale retail chains in Serbia saw an average 61% increase in consumer goods sales during the third week of March compared to the same period in 2019, as a result of increased purchasing due to COVID-19.
In the fourth week of March alone, there was a 43% increase in sales, according to Nielsen data, reported by eKapija.
Modern retail chains recorded sales growth of more than 700% in some product categories, the data showed.
Shelf-stable groceries recorded annual sales growth of 101% in the third week and 84.8% in the fourth week of March; healthcare products rose by 96.4% and 89.1% respecitvely; household products rose by 96% and 66.3% respectively; and baby products rose by 80.9% and 54.5% respectively.
Other products to see significant gains included frozen products (+67.5% and +62.3% respectively); fresh food (+41.5% and +42.2% respectively); pet food (+39.4% and +36.6% respectively); alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (+37.5% and +12% respectively); and confectionery and snacks (+28.8 and +9.3% respectively).
Paper Products
As was the case in many European countries, sales of toilet paper also soared in the period – sales of paper products increased by 149% in the third and by 100% in the fourth week of March.
Consumers also stocked up on cleaning products, with disinfectants recording staggering growth of 702.9% in the third and 482.2% in the fourth week of March, and soaps rising by 281.5% and 218% respectively.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
