Costa Rica

Soft drinks faced a difficult year in 2023 as high levels of inflation were exacerbated by the appreciation of the Costa Rica Colón vis-à-vis the US dollar. Inflation led to unit price increases across a range of soft drinks categories, although…

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…

E-vapour products in Costa Rica continued to post robust growth in volume and current value terms in 2023. Buoyant demand was underpinned by the fact that rising health awareness is driving more smokers to migrate from cigarettes and other forms of…

Conventional products continued to face growing competition from dermocosmetics in skin care in Costa Rica in 2023, with this trend remaining most visible in the premium segment. Recent years have seen dermocosmetic varieties offered by brands like…

With inflation remaining high in 2023, brand loyalty remains weak among most lower income consumers, who normally purchase the cheapest option available when it comes to salty snacks. Price-competition is therefore stronger in the mass segment, as…

The variety of formats and brands available for pasta sauces has increased over the past few years, with newer options including Kern’s 435g jars, Naturas 430g jars, Great Value and Rao’s 680g jars; Sabemas stand-up pouches; Del Monte and Contadina…

The San Jose in Costa Rica report provides comprehensive city level information benchmarked against other cities in the country and region. The report includes historic data and forecasts on city population, consumer expenditure, digital penetration,…

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…

Despite the inflationary climate in Costa Rica, the RTD tea category did not experience the same sudden price increases as other soft drinks. This benefited the category in terms of both volume and value growth as consumers did not feel as compelled…

RTD coffee products saw notable unit price increases over the review period, due in large part to the steep price movements of coffee in 2022. Given the relatively small size of RTD coffee in Costa Rica, the higher unit prices associated with these…

Tariffs on imported rice were reduced by 33% in 2023 leading to a significant rise in imports. In six months, imports of rice pellets (unpeeled rice that is processed) grew by 477%. The main importing companies are Inter-Global (Walmart's logistics…

In 2023, retail tissue in Costa Rica recorded positive retail value growth. Due to rising prices, consumers were increasingly seeking savings without compromising the quality of their retail tissue products. Consumers in Costa Rica expect a certain…

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…

While e-commerce sales saw significant growth in 2021, in 2022, growth was boosted even further, with strong double-digit value retail growth recorded. Online sales are well developed in Costa Rica in regional terms but remain immature in global…

In 2023, retail adult incontinence products in Costa Rica recorded strong levels of double-digit retail value growth. This growth was driven by high price points, in addition to the ageing population, which is fuelling the demand for adult…

Convenience stores continue to grow their portfolio of processed meat, seafood, and alternatives to meat in 2023. Convenience store chains like Fresh Market offer both imported and local products, with imported brands bringing innovative options to…

Retail volume sales of processed fruit and vegetables enjoyed a strong increase in retail volume sales in 2023, compared to the previous year. While fresh produce offers its own benefits, frozen fruits and vegetables are a preferred choice for many…

E-commerce continued to gain importance in terms of premium beauty and personal care distribution in Costa Rica in 2023. While this was in keeping with the trend evident across the market as a whole, the channel’s rising penetration also reflected…

Demand for polishes has remained steady over the review period, as consumers continue to regularly use floor and furniture polish, as part of their cleaning routine. That being said, volume growth was muted, as competing products such as surface care…

The awareness and benefits of a plant-based diet continues to grow among higher income consumers and more and more shelf space is being allocated to plant-based dairy. Plant-based milk is the most popular and is entering the mainstream. However, as…