Costa Rica

Current value sales are expected to increase, along with a slight increase in volume sales. While there is still economic uncertainty, as a result of rising inflation, the growth in inflation is expected to ease. That being said, consumers are…

Increased socialising and the return to post-pandemic habits is supporting the snacks category in 2023. Although inflation continues to cut into discretionary incomes and consumers remain price sensitive, most consumers have become accustomed to…

Spirits registered very healthy double-digit volume growth in 2022. Part of the reason for the positive performance was increased socialising, as society fully opened up post pandemic lockdowns. The return of foreign tourists also contributed to the…

Beer registered healthy volume growth in 2022. Part of the reason for the positive performance was increased socialising, as society fully opened up post pandemic lockdowns. The FIFA World Cup in December also contributed to the high levels of…

With consumers being more price sensitive, pre-shave products such as the shaving foams offered by Gillette, Nivea, and Barbasol continue to see declining volume sales in 2022 as they are perceived to be non-essential and easily substitutable items.…

Considered an essential product, deodorants record further growth in 2022; however, brand loyalty is waning as consumers look to economise due to the difficult economic climate and high inflation in Costa Rica. To encourage consumption, some…

RTDs in Costa Rica are growing in popularity, especially among younger generations as they are often sweet, also often have low-calorie content and a low ABV, especially RTDs such as hard seltzers. Parents also like RTDs as introductory drinks for…

Consumers having less disposable income has impacted their purchasing habits in 2023, including their choices regarding healthcare products and vitamins. Rather than investing in preventative measures like vitamins, consumers are opting for more…

As consumers face stress due to economic uncertainty and skin imbalances after COVID-19, many suffer from hair loss, helping category growth. While some consumers opt for dietary supplements to avoid hair loss, others turn to shampoos or other…

The price of furniture polish and metal polish in Costa Rica is high and thus unaffordable for lower-income consumers. The need for these types of products is also limited, and consumers struggling to prioritise goods on reduced budgets regard the…

Bleach is a well-established home care category in Costa Rica and appeals to a wide target audience including mid- to high-income consumers thanks to its products’ perceived effectiveness in eliminating bacteria and viruses. Most brands’ innovation…

High inflation impinged on Costa Rican household budgets in 2022, prompting more consumers to trade down to cheaper cigarette brands. Often, the more economical options are illegal cigarettes that come from India and South Korea via the Colón Free…

In light of high inflation in 2022, consumers in Costa Rica strove to make savings when purchasing dishwashing products. Price-wars were widespread as brands vied for shoppers. Leading player Axion enjoys a good reputation for products that eliminate…

Rising inflation has caused consumers to be increasingly stressed in 2023, with rising price points and ongoing economic uncertainty negatively impacting lives. This ongoing uncertainty has led to an increase in physical discomforts; often in the…

Although socialising and post-pandemic celebrations improved in 2022, severe pressures on discretionary incomes and negative press surrounding the hazards of smoking limited overall tobacco consumption. Price has become a buzzword in 2022 with Costa…

Retailing in Costa Rica was challenged in 2022, with rising inflation and price hikes impacting consumer buying habits. In addition, high levels of unemployment in the country continued to impact household budgets, shaping purchasing decisions. This…

With the rising cost of living in Costa Rica, consumers sought to make cost savings in 2022, which has supported the growth of private labels such as Members Selection from Price Smart, and secondary brands like Suave y Fresco or Family´s Choice.…

Consumers continue to conscious about discretionary income in 2023, with the higher price of gum an issue for the less affluent. Gum is not an essential item among Costa Ricans, and so it is easy to reduce consumption, and instead, is more popular as…

Wine registered very healthy volume growth in 2022. Part of the reason for the positive performance was increased socialising, as society fully opened up post pandemic lockdowns. The return of foreign tourists also contributed to the growth, as well…

With consumers no longer wearing masks in 2022, returning to their old social habits, kissing each other on the cheek when greeting, they want to present themselves well and smell good. This is driving healthy current value and volume growth in…