Consumer awareness in Sweden is high and in order to be successful in doing business with Sweden, the exporter needs to know the trends in the market.

Private consumption has become more modest during the first quarter of 2011 according to Statistics Sweden (SCB). Probably this is due to increased expenditures in the household budgets. Higher electricity prices and increased mortgages reduce the spending possibilities. At the same time increased prices for raw materials puts retailers under high pressure and competition on the Swedish market is fierce.

Within the food sector the positive trend for organic, fair trade, nutritious, or ethnic products is expected to maintain over the next few years. Sales have increased significantly for these products recently even though the total food sector is estimated to show a more modest development. Therefore, interesting prospects exist for exporters in developing countries who can supply quality products at competitive prices.

Sweden consumers are conscious in general and in the garment sector it is possible to find organic materials and fair-trade labeled clothes offered by most retailers.

Read more about trends in different sectors in the Swedish market in our market reports.