Costa Rica

Following its acquisition by Grupo Unicomer, RadioShack reopened its stores in Costa Rica in 2022. The player plans to have 18 outlets within the country by the end of 2024. This moves shows the continued importance, opportunity and growth for…

Global players such as Colgate, Listerine and Oral-B continued to dominate oral care in Costa Rica in 2023 due to their trusted reputations for quality and efficacy, broad product ranges and extensive distribution coverage. However, a number of…

While current value sales are expected to increase, volume sales are expected to register a decline, as continuing rising prices dampens volume sales somewhat. In particular, the largest product in terms of volume sales, that is condensed milk, drags…

Other hot drinks has witnessed only slight unit price increases in recent years, which has resulted in stable volume and value growth in the category. Sales in the on-trade channel continue to recover from the pandemic, aided by the return of…

There is a growing demand for natural and organic products in all categories regarding paediatric health. This is increasingly obvious in baby food, supplements, and skin care products. Parents are becoming more conscious of the ingredients in the…

Political stability and better government finances are adding to economic freedom in Costa Rica, but corruption is on the rise. Foreign investors continue to flock to the country, but the economy is moderating and prices are falling. Discretionary…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…