Boston, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/13/2014 -- High levels of unemployment (forecast at 23.5% for 2014) and government's plans to cut public sector jobs and wages will likely begin to impact households from H214 onwards. This will weigh on overall consumer sentiment, given that the public sector workforce comprises one fifth of the total workforce. In line with the poor consumer outlook, we forecast 2014 total food consumption in Serbia to expand by 1.6% in local currency terms.

Headline Industry Data (local currency):

- Total food consumption growth year-on-year (y-o-y) in 2014: +1.6%; compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to 2018: +2.3%
- Alcoholic drinks sales growth (y-o-y) in 2014: +1.6%; (CAGR) to 2018: +2.4%
- Soft drinks sales growth (y-o-y) in 2014: +5.8%; CAGR to 2018: +10.3%
- Total mass grocery sales (local currency) growth (y-o-y) in 2014: +4.3%; CAGR to 2018: +6.3%

View Full Report Details and Table of Contents

Key Industry Trends And Developments

Ferrero Signs MoU With Serbian Government : In February 2014 it was announced that Italian confectionery company Ferrero had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Serbian government on February 6, in a bid to make Serbia 'the European hub of hazelnut production'. The partnership between the Italian company and Serbian producers will generate an opportunity to promote hazelnut production in central and eastern Serbia. According to Minister of Agriculture Dragan Glamocic, 'Ferrero's investments will enlarge the area covered with hazelnut trees from 1,000 hectares to over 10,000 hectares by 2020'.

Sojaprotein Moves T o Higher Value : In autumn 2013, the Balkans' largest soy bean processor, Serbia based Sojaprotein, announced that it is to borrow EUR110mn from Societe Generale and UniCredit for refinancing as the company shifts to higher value products. The financing will support the transition from soybean meal for animal feeds to higher margin soy protein concentrate.

Delhaize Incurs Writed own O n Serbian Business : In November 2013 Belgium-based retailer Delhaize...

The Serbia Food & Drink Report features Business Monitor International (BMI)'s market assessment and independent forecasts for food and drink expenditure, consumption, sales, and imports/exports and forecasts for the mass grocery retail sector. The report also includes analyses of major regulatory developments, the background macroeconomic outlook and competitive landscape comparing national and multinational companies by leading products and services, sales, investments, partners and expansion strategies.

BMI's Serbia Food & Drink Report provides industry professionals and strategists, sector analysts, business investors, trade associations and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on the food and drink industry and the mass grocery retail market in Serbia.

About Fast Market Research
Fast Market Research is a leading distributor of market research and business information. Representing the world's top research publishers and analysts, we provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available. Our unbiased, expert staff is always available to help you find the right research to fit your requirements and your budget. For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

Browse all Food research reports at Fast Market Research

You may also be interested in these related reports:

- Slovenia Food & Drink Report Q3 2014
- Bahrain Food & Drink Report Q3 2014
- Chile Food & Drink Report Q3 2014
- Germany Food & Drink Report Q3 2014
- Brazil Food & Drink Report Q3 2014
- Saudi Arabia Food & Drink Report Q3 2014
- United Arab Emirates Food & Drink Report Q3 2014
- Indonesia Food & Drink Report Q3 2014
- Pakistan Food & Drink Report Q3 2014
- China Food & Drink Report Q3 2014