• Underwear - UK
Underwear - UK

In a challenging economic environment, the £2.57 billion underwear market has held up reasonably well, although there have been some casualties – notably Intimas. Although people might be cutting back on their underwear purchasing, just 3m men and 1m women did not buy new underwear in 2009. Women account for more than 70% of underwear spend because they buy a greater number of items. women buy underwear for a host of reasons or occasions, whereas men stick largely to replacement buys.
• Premium and Value Own-label Food - UK
Premium and Value Own-label Food - UK

This report looks at how consumers have changed their purchase choices between various types of own-label and branded foods, and how their attitudes towards these have changed, as well as the role of the food retailers.
• Hot Chocolate and Malted Drinks - UK
Hot Chocolate and Malted Drinks - UK

The investment potential of the hot chocolate market is clearly highlighted by growth of 20% between 2007 and 2009. Despite the economic downturn, the market is now worth just under £100m. By contrast, once-iconic malted drinks, such as Horlicks and Ovaltine are now seen as old-fashioned and less relevant to today’s consumer. As a result, sales declined by 12% between 2005 and 2009. The hot chocolate and malted drinks markets are struggling to increase purchase and consumption rates. Seen as heavier and more calorific than regularly-drunk alternatives such as tea and coffee, both drinks suffer from a perception of being an “occasional” drink.
• Smoking Cessation Products - US
Smoking Cessation Products - US

Despite an environment that makes it increasingly difficult for smokers to light up, sales of smoking cessation products (SCPs) are lackluster. Cigarette taxes are at an all time high, and smoking bans have relegated smokers to “back rooms and alleyways.” At the same time, the recession proves to be a double-edged sword, causing consumers to balk at the expense of aids in the quitting process. Questions about product efficacy abound, and smokers demonstrate an unwillingness to add the stress of quitting to the myriad of issues that come with financial hard times.
• DVD Players - UK
DVD Players - UK

Manufacturers’ price cuts and greater education of consumers will be required to increase Blu-ray drive adoption in 2010. Standard DVD players remain by far the most widely used technology (78% of respondents), whereas newer formats such as Blu-ray remain underused (just 11%). DVD players have been relegated in importance compared to other living room gadgets with 18% of respondents saying they are using personal video recorders more. Extra functionality is a key differentiator between basic and more expensive DVD players. But the challenge for manufacturers is to show how increased functionality is relevant to users, particularly over 55-year olds who are the most likely group to say increased functionality isn’t important.
• Anti-aging Skincare - US
Anti-aging Skincare - US

The US anti-aging skincare market is enjoying solid and at times robust growth in 2010, buoyed by a consumer base that is in large part unwilling to give up such products despite the current economic recession. While a number of consumers appear to be trading down to less expensive brands in the personal care aisles or making their existing brands last longer—which negatively impacts overall sales—women (the core anti-aging consumer) indicate very little propensity to forego anti-aging products altogether. This report thoroughly examines these factors, and provides in-depth analysis of the following:
• Disposable Baby Products - US
Disposable Baby Products - US

This report examines the market for disposable baby products including diapers, training pants, wipes/moist towelettes, as well as cleansing and care products. Using sales data along with Mintel’s proprietary GNPD, results from the Experian Simmons NCS/NHCS, and Mintel’s exclusive consumer survey, Mintel analyzes the increasingly competitive disposable baby products market to identify areas of opportunity in an increasingly challenging market.
• Domestic vs Overseas Holidays - Ireland
Domestic vs Overseas Holidays - Ireland

In response to increasing demand for data concerning the dynamic economy and growth markets of Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland, Mintel has developed a series of reports covering a wide variety of sectors within both of these dynamic regions. Each one provides detailed coverage of key drivers as well as providing the very latest volume and value data. Also included are assessments of emerging trends, the activities of existing market players, brand ownership details, supply structures, future scenarios and statistical forecasts.
• Fruit Juice and Juice Drinks: The Market - US
Fruit Juice and Juice Drinks: The Market - US

In this two-part report on fruit juice and juice drinks, Mintel explores the fruit juice and juice drinks market with an in-depth look into market sales, segment performance, and brand performances among other market-centric factors. The consumer-centric view is covered in Mintel’s Fruit Juice and Juice Drinks: The Consumer—U.S., January 2010. This report gives fruit juice/juice drinks manufacturers and marketers a glimpse into market performance as a whole. The core themes explored in this report include, but are not limited to:
• Greeting Cards and eCards - US
Greeting Cards and eCards - US

In the midst of a recession, people feel the need to connect more than ever. Even with the availability of instant modes of communication, the need to feel connected still exists. This is precisely why greeting cards have managed to stay relevant and continue to grow, even as they are absorbed into modern modes of connecting.
• Optical Goods and Eyecare - UK
Optical Goods and Eyecare - UK

Optical goods, especially spectacles, are a discretionary purchase and the recession has dented demand. Spending in 2009 fell by 2.2% compared with the previous year. However, modest growth will return in 2010 as consumer confidence improves with sales forecast to grow by 19% in the five years to 2014,. More than six in ten adults now wear spectacles (32 million), an increase of 2m since 2004. Alongside increased numbers of spectacle wearers, the number of contact lens wearers has grown by 0.5m in the same period to reach 4m. Despite this growth in optical goods consumers, the market for laser eyesight correction continues to develop and has become a small, but significant alternative to spectacles or contact lenses.
• Saving and Investing for the Long-term - UK
Saving and Investing for the Long-term - UK

In this report, Mintel examines the market for long-term savings and investment products, from cash to equity-based investments and the issues facing providers, distributors and advisers. It considers whether we are a nation of savers or borrowers, and how the upheavals of the past two years have affected savings confidence and behaviour.

The UK online grocery market is estimated at £4.4 billion (including sales tax and delivery charges) in 2009, having more than doubled (134% growth) in value over 2005-09. Rapidly rising food inflation, particularly in 2008, has contributed to high value growth in the sector, while dampening demand in volume terms. However, even the underlying growth has been explosive. On the consumer side, rising broadband penetration and higher connection speeds, together with the steady expansion of the online grocers’ geographical coverage, has made the service accessible to more people. Meanwhile, the improvements to the online grocers’ services and rising web fluency have encouraged usage.

The DIY market has been hard hit by the recession because it has come on top of a declining trend that has been evident for the last five years. Nor is there any short term prospect of recovery. Consumers’ incomes are likely to be squeezed both this year and next and the housing market could well see a second fall. It may not actually be a double dip recession, but that is what it will feel like for consumers. The popularity of DIY is declining. In the last five years the number of people doing DIY has fallen by almost 2 million.