Retail value sales of drinking milk products in Slovakia continued to rise in 2025, supported by moderate price inflation and stable demand for selected premium products. However, evolving VAT legislation introduced in January 2025 had mixed effects across the category. Fresh, unsweetened milk benefited from a reduced VAT rate – down from 10% to 5% – which helped stimulate demand among price-sensitive consumers. By contrast, sweetened milk products and plant-based alternatives remained subject t

Retail value sales of other dairy in Slovakia rose in 2025, supported by a combination of factors including rising unit prices, despite a reduction in VAT rates that somewhat moderated this increase. The VAT on dairy dropped from 10% in 2024 to 5% in 2025, while the VAT on plant-based alternatives decreased only slightly from 20% to 19%, making dairy-based products more accessible in comparison. These dynamics created a favourable environment for value growth in the category, even as inflation a

Value sales of cheese in Slovakia increased in 2025, supported by a combination of unit price inflation and premiumisation. Slovak consumers continued to show interest in quality aged cheese and varieties intended for special occasions, such as grilling cheese. However, despite this interest in higher-end options, price sensitivity remained widespread. Consumers frequently sought out price promotions and discounts, with many purchasing based on the best value at a given moment. The most dynamic

Retail value sales of baby food in Slovakia increased in 2025, primarily due to unit price growth rather than volume expansion. Persistently low birth rates in Slovakia significantly hampered volume growth, raising concerns for the category's long-term prospects. Broader socio-economic conditions – including the ongoing war in neighbouring Ukraine, weak real purchasing power, and low consumer confidence – created an environment unconducive to family planning. These factors collectively weighed o

Retail value sales of yoghurt and sour milk products in Slovakia increased in 2025, supported by slowly rising unit prices and the sustained appeal of dairy as a staple in Slovak households. While a reduction in the VAT rate from 10% to 5% made products more affordable, which slightly softened value growth, it simultaneously encouraged higher volumes. Traditional dairy-based yoghurts retained an edge over plant-based alternatives, as Slovak consumers became increasingly price-sensitive and prior

Value sales of butter and spreads in Slovakia increased in 2025, largely driven by rising unit prices. The cost of butter surged due to higher commodity prices and production expenses, which placed pressure on household budgets. As a result, volume sales of butter declined, with consumers turning to more affordable options, including plant-based spreads. Cooking fats emerged as the most dynamic category in terms of current value growth, but this was not due to significantly higher consumption. I

Value sales of dairy products and alternatives in Slovakia rose in 2025. A key driver behind this development was the introduction of new legislation that reduced VAT rates for most dairy products. The majority of dairy products saw VAT drop from 10% in 2024 to 5% in 2025, making them more affordable. However, this change also placed downward pressure on current value sales growth. In contrast, plant-based products were not included in the reduced VAT list and instead experienced a modest drop i

Retail value sales of plant-based dairy in Slovakia recorded strong growth in 2025 despite a challenging economic environment marked by inflation, elevated VAT levels, and persistent financial uncertainty. Although these conditions curbed overall consumer spending, the sustained appeal of health and wellness trends helped drive category expansion. Growing awareness around nutrition and digestive health continued to attract Slovaks to plant-based products, with many consumers willing to pay more

Despite relatively solid economic freedom, corruption is increasingly blighting Slovakia’s political landscape, whilst the government’s tacit support for Russia is causing tensions. Economic performance has been better than peers but is at risk from rising inflation and high trade reliance. Growing incomes and contained inequality will support the consumer market, but ageing is an issue. Internet and mobile use are robust, but small businesses lack digital intensity and innovation is limited.

The report examines the economic landscape of Slovakia and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy expanded in real terms in 2024, driven by private consumption, government spending. However, global economic slowdown, increasing geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation as well as tight financial conditions pose risks to the country’s economic outlook.

The number of households is set to increase slightly, while the average household size will shrink in Slovakia over 2024-2029. Single person households will remain the dominant household type and the fastest household expenditure growth is forecast to be recorded by single person households. In addition, the share of households living in urban areas is projected to expand to 60.9% by 2029.

Value sales of chocolate confectionery increased significantly in 2025 as a result of unit price hikes due to soaring prices of cocoa, which experienced a bad harvest, leading to shortages. This forced chocolate producers to increase prices multiple times in both 2024 and 2025, making chocolate an increasingly premium product. Consequently, a growing number of price-sensitive consumers shifted to other products, including biscuits, resulting in retail volume decline of chocolate confectionery in

In 2025, sugar confectionery in Slovakia benefited from the steep rise in commodity prices affecting chocolate confectionery, gaining a temporary competitive edge among price-sensitive consumers. Many consumers shifted to lower-cost alternatives, such as sugar confectionery or biscuits, as a way to reduce spending. In addition, price inflation contributed to overall value sales growth in sugar confectionery.

Value sales of gum in Slovakia recorded further value growth in 2025. The category strongly benefited from price inflation, which pushed unit prices up despite the VAT reduction from 20% to 19%. The introduction of new taxes and low consumer confidence meant that consumers remained cautious with their spending, with gum being no exception.

Sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks experienced a good year in both 2024 and 2025, benefiting from changing market conditions and the soaring price of chocolate confectionery and potato chips. This caused a shift in demand which favoured biscuits due to their more stable prices. Nevertheless, it is important to mention that value growth was in part also driven by price inflation, however it was not as significant as for potato chips or chocolate confectionery.

Value sales of savoury snacks saw gains towards the end of the review period, largely driven by rising unit prices. Potato chips were a major contributor to this price inflation, with weaker potato crops in 2024 and increased production costs pushing prices up. Despite these challenges, savoury snacks remained essential items in consumers’ shopping baskets throughout 2025, as indulgence and snacking preferences continued even during economically challenging times.

Snacks continued to perform well in current value terms in Slovakia in 2025, with growth primarily driven by rising unit prices amid consumers’ ongoing reluctance to increase discretionary spending. Faced with elevated commodity prices - particularly for ingredients like cocoa - and rising production costs, manufacturers were forced to pass these increases on to retail prices. Despite economic pressures, a touch of indulgence is important to Slovak consumers, with snacks serving as a small pleas

In 2025, ice cream sales in Slovakia continued to benefit from a slight consumer shift away from more expensive categories such as chocolate confectionery, which suffered from soaring cocoa prices. Although ice cream prices were also impacted, the increase was less pronounced, positioning ice cream as a more affordable indulgence. However, unlike 2024 - which saw warm, dry weather and an early start to the ice cream season in mid-April - 2025 experienced a delayed season, with warmer conditions

Insight into income, wealth and expenditure of consumers and households is vital in helping businesses make strategic decisions with regards to which country (or even which region within a country) to enter, which consumer segment to target, which products or services to market, and at which price point. Other factors such as the size and expansion of the middle class and income inequality are also important in helping companies gauge the potential of a country market.

Alcoholic drinks in Slovakia saw a welcome boost to volume sales in 2024 as the warm and dry weather conditions during much of spring, summer, and autumn bolstered consumption. Beer and RTDs were the main winners in this regard as they offer a refreshing drink option. Promotional strategies and discounts also supported volume growth of alcoholic drinks, with modern grocery retailers relying on both to incentivise consumers who were still grappling with high costs of living. Indeed, lower purchas

Cider/perry in Slovakia witnessed another year of decline in 2024, although the drop was much less severe than in the previous year when a number of key brands abandoned the Slovak market. Warm and dry weather continued throughout much of 2024 giving cider/perry a much needed boost in the on-trade. Nevertheless, the category lacked the marketing support that it used to have and remained under pressure from flavoured beer and RTD mixes.

Wine in Slovakia continued to be hampered by the overall shifts in drinking behaviour among Slovak consumers, with many choosing to drink less alcohol. On the supply side, a dry year meant that the harvest of local grape varieties was weaker, while at the same time production costs continued to soar. This resulted in unit price increases and a switch in favour of imported wine from markets where wine production is both well subsidised and in surplus. Consumer price sensitivity among Slovaks rema

Beer volume sales rebounded strongly in 2024, thanks to the warmer temperatures in Slovakia during the spring and summer of 2024. With consumers seeking refreshment, beer consumption improved in both the on-trade and off-trade. Beer consumption was also driven by a shift away from spirits, as consumers considered beer to be a more affordable option relative to spirits where excise tax had driven up prices. Whilst the average unit price of beer also rose in 2024, due to rising costs and the soari

Spirits in Slovakia was negatively impacted by higher excise taxes in 2024. Consumption of spirits declined in both the off- and on-trade due to significant unit price growth on economy lines. Premiumisation remained visible as quality was increasingly favoured by more affluent consumers. Spirits was the only major category to see an increase excise tax over 2024, which encouraged some consumers to switch to more affordable alcoholic drinks like beer.