Australia’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market, encompassing food, beverages, personal care products, and more, grew in 2023 despite an unpredictable retail environment and inflationary pressures affecting most segments. With an estimated population of over 26 million, the country has an extensive consumer base for FMCG companies to tap into. Nonetheless, the Australian market has had to continuously adapt in recent years to keep up with shifting consumer preferences and spending re-prioritization brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and increased concerns regarding sustainable consumption. With the FMCG market expected to decline in 2024 due to falling consumer purchasing power and a lower inclination to spend on non-essential goods, the market must meet consumer expectations, such as value for money and convenience, as well as online product availability following the pandemic-induced e-commerce boom.
Alongside the major supermarkets, Chemist Warehouse and Priceline Pharmacy are popular retail pharmacies for discount supplements, vitamins, and personal care items. In the electronics segment, JB Hi-Fi is the market leader in the retail of FMCG electronics, with the Good Guys and Harvey Norman also retailing in white goods and other household durables. Discount department stores Myer, Kmart, and Big W are also formidable contenders for the FMCG market share, with the department store segment reporting a turnover of over 21 billion Australian dollars in 2022.
Australia’s FMCG landscape
As of 2023, there were over 155 thousand retail trade businesses across Australia. The country’s food retail marketplace has long been dominated by supermarket rivals Coles and Woolworths, with German discount retailer Aldi taking a respectable market share in recent years. With liquor sales largely restricted to licensed liquor stores, both Coles and Woolworths established their own liquor outlets. Coles owns liquor store chain Liquorland, while Woolworths-founded outlets Dan Murphy’s and BWS were spun off from the group in 2021 to form the Endeavour Group.Alongside the major supermarkets, Chemist Warehouse and Priceline Pharmacy are popular retail pharmacies for discount supplements, vitamins, and personal care items. In the electronics segment, JB Hi-Fi is the market leader in the retail of FMCG electronics, with the Good Guys and Harvey Norman also retailing in white goods and other household durables. Discount department stores Myer, Kmart, and Big W are also formidable contenders for the FMCG market share, with the department store segment reporting a turnover of over 21 billion Australian dollars in 2022.
