Consumer Confidence Grows: The Unexpected Resilience of the Dutch Retail Market
Boedapest, donderdag, 26 juni 2025.
Despite a turbulent economic climate, recent research by NIQ reveals a surprising trend in the retail sector. Consumers are recalibrating their purchasing behaviour with remarkable resilience, with price sensitivity and brand preferences fundamentally shifting. Discounters are gaining market share, while e-commerce shows double-digit growth. Notably, there is a growing appreciation for own-brand products, with six in ten consumers considering them high-quality. The market displays an interesting polarisation: alongside cheaper alternatives, the premium segment is also growing, indicating a nuanced consumer strategy in a challenging economic context.
Shifting Market Dynamics
The retail sector is undergoing a profound transformation, with consumers fundamentally reassessing their purchasing behaviour. Discounters have significantly expanded their market share to 36 percent, while the e-commerce sector shows double-digit growth [1][2]. This shift is driven by strong price sensitivity, with nine out of ten consumers still experiencing price increases [3].
Brand Choice and Consumer Preference
Notably, there is a changing attitude towards own-brand products. Six in ten consumers consider own-brand products as high-quality [1], while between 2023 and 2024, the growth of own-brand products slowed, and branded products regained value, especially in categories like beverages, snacks, and dairy [2].
Market Polarisation
The retail market shows an interesting dichotomy: alongside a growing demand for cheaper alternatives, we also see a remarkable growth in the premium segment [1][3]. Consumers are becoming increasingly selective, with a clear preference for brands that offer more value for their money [4].