Latin America

Sauces, dips and condiments has recorded another solid performance in retail volume terms in 2023, with growth expected to be up slightly on 2022. The resumption of pre-pandemic routines has helped to lift overall demand, in that as the pace of life…

Sauces, dips and condiments are expected to register healthy current value and volume growth in 2023. With increasing inflationary pressure, consumers look to cook at home, with cooking ingredients and condiments especially performing well. That…

Remote and hybrid working models are shifting consumption habits towards more flexible patterns of eating at more convenient times, with the impact of rising living costs on consumer confidence and household spending levels also supporting these…

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…

Ketchup continues to lead in cooking and table sauces in the Dominican Republic. Brands are innovating by introducing stand-up pouches that provide greater convenience for consumers, such as from the likes of Gourmet, Linda, Heinz and Famosa.…

Private label continues to gain prominence within sauces, dips and condiments. Ecuador's largest retailer, Corporación Favorita, has a range of private label options including Akí and Supermaxi, as well as La Original, which is the cheapest option…

Despite its maturity, ketchup is witnessing robust growth as lower-quality value offerings gain traction in the category. The surge in retail prices has created a favourable environment for domestic producers, supporting cheaper brands, such as B&B…

Powders are replacing cubes as the preferred format for stock in Peru. Consumers prefer powders for reasons of practicality, as they are perceived to be easier to use and dissolve. They also come in smaller pack sizes and can be bought in single unit…

Sauces, dips and condiments registered a low increase in retail volume terms in 2023, with supply levels normalising after the fluctuations seen in 2021 and 2022. The rising cost of raw materials has been an issue for manufacturers, as well as custom…

Volume sales of staple foods are expected to grow in 2023. Moderate inflation rates after a challenging 2022 will play a key role in the recovery of categories such as baked goods as well as rice, pasta and noodles. However, breakfast cereals is…

Following impressive growth during the first half of the review period, chocolate spreads in Argentina saw retail volume sales contract in 2022. While the rate of decline has slowed, the category is poised to register another negative performance in…

Sweet spreads are expected to register a decrease in volume sales in 2023. Part of this decline is due to the widespread availability of smuggled sweet spreads in outdoor markets. Smuggling has increased significantly in recent years. Bolivia’s fixed…

Retail sales of sweet spreads are seeing growth boosted in Colombia in 2023 by the expansion of consumption opportunities, with consumers increasingly choosing to use chocolate spreads as ingredients in the preparation of home-made desserts and…

Honey is expected to register the highest current value growth, Consumers perceive honey as a healthy option as it is a natural product which is rich in minerals, vitamins and trace elements and as such honey continues to perform well. That being…

Jams and preserves is the largest category by volume with the majority of production originating from local companies that use well-known and popular fruits. While some imported brands are available in the Dominican Republic, they are less prevalent…

Historically, chocolate spreads have been an expensive option for Ecuadorians and is usually only found in modern retail channels where shoppers tend to have higher purchasing power. As a result, chocolate spreads have been inaccessible to a large…

The jams and preserves category holds significant importance in terms of retail volume sales, following substantial growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, volume growth has returned to normal rates with retail prices stabilising. Local brands…

Chocolate spreads maintained its growth in 2023, in contrast to other categories within sweet spreads, which registered high growth rates during the COVID-19 crisis, but then saw sales fall away as life returned to normal and people started going…

Jams and preserves remains the largest category in sweet spreads, registering a slight contraction in retail volume terms in 2023. The decline can be explained by a rise in the number of Uruguayans crossing the border into Argentina in order to buy…

With the war in Ukraine still having an inflationary impact on wheat prices, and with bread being one of the most important staple for Bolivians, the government subsidised the price of flour for bakers. Government authorities reported that 2 million…

Inflation in Colombia reached its peak in 2022 and, although it significantly decelerated in the first half of 2023, records continue to show high inflation rates. Food prices, particularly those of baked goods, were no exception to this trend. The…

After the strong price rises seen in 2022, consumers have welcomed the lower prices emerging in bread during 2023. The reduction in value added tax (IVA) in February 2023 and the improvement in global wheat supply has enabled retailers to reduce…

Throughout 2023, the bread industry has faced several challenges. The global surge in prices for wheat, oil, and butter, all of which are crucial components for bread production, has caused issues for manufacturers. In addition, the cost of eggs in…

Bottled water is seeing strong and stable growth in retail volume terms in 2023 with the category seeing stronger growth compared to 2022. Retail volume sales saw slower growth in 2022 as price inflation saw some consumers looking to make savings,…

Breakfast cereals is expected to register healthy value and volume growth in 2023. With consumers leading increasingly busy lives, the convenience of breakfast cereals supports volume sales. Also, in addition, to family packs, there is an increasing…

In 2023, hot cereals, muesli, and granola, as product areas, have recorded the most robust sales performance. Hot cereals, primarily oats, along with muesli and granola, have benefited from their healthier attributes when compared to other breakfast…

Kids' cereals have long been a popular choice among parents, as they offer a convenient and enjoyable breakfast option for their children. In 2023, innovation from established brands is driving consumer interest, such as General Mill’s Trix Bunnies…

Breakfast cereal prices have witnessed a significant rise in 2023, the result of the ongoing inflations and the rising costs of raw materials. Many prominent cereal brands, including Chocapic, Froot Loops, Trix, and Zucaritas, are imported, rendering…

Carbonates continues to see healthy growth in 2023, both in retail volume and value terms. Nonetheless, growth has been slower than in the previous two years with economic pressures taking their toll and pushing some consumers to focus their spending…

Concentrates has continued to grow in retail volume and value terms in 2023, with both liquid and powder concentrates seeing healthy gains. Growth has been much stronger in current value terms, however, which is largely due to an inflation-driven…

Energy drinks has continued to see strong growth in retail volume terms in 2023 with consumers returning to their pre-pandemic purchasing behaviour. Meanwhile, energy drinks has also seen dynamic double-digit growth in current value terms in 2023,…

The juice category has grown significantly in Dominican Republic in 2022 and 2023 in retail volume terms. The category has seen even stronger growth in current value terms due to inflation-driven price rises. Juice drinks (up to 24% juice) has been…

Processed fruit and vegetables is expected to register a fall in volume sales in 2023, due to rising inflation. While Bolivia had managed to protect itself to a large extent from inflation by continuing to have a fixed exchange rate against the…

In 2023, among all the staple foods, processed fruit and vegetables experienced the most challenging sales performance. The primary factor behind this sales decline was the remarkable stability, and even occasional price reductions, in fresh fruit…

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…

Frozen potatoes has witnessed a substantial expansion within the modern retail sector, characterised by the wide offerings of various brands. The increase in brand options has heightened consumer interest, fostering a competitive landscape that…

Since the beginning of 2023, packaged food brands are required to incorporate health warning black seals on their packaging, indicating an excess content of saturated fat, sugars, or sodium.

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…

The landscape for shelf-stable seafood is primarily led by canned tuna and canned sardine sales. During the outbreak of COVID-19, canned tuna gained popularity due to its affordability, versatility, and extended shelf life, making it a reliable…

Shelf stable seafood is mainly imported and is expected to be impacted by inflationary pressure in 2023. While Bolivia had managed to protect itself to a large extent from inflation by continuing to have a fixed exchange rate against the dollar,…

Rice is expected to register positive current value and volume growth in 2023. Rice is an important staple in the Bolivian diet, having one of the highest consumption rate in the region. However, it was protected from global inflationary pressure, as…

Dried pasta and rice are staple products on Colombian tables, offering versatility for various meals and affordability. While they are not the same type of food, both are commonly consumed either on their own or paired with vegetables, meat, or a…

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…

Rice is a staple food in Ecuadorian households and is pivotal in local economies. Weather conditions in Ecuador have a significant impact on rice production, influencing both yields and market dynamics. A particularly potent winter season,…

RTD tea has seen significant growth in retail value and volume terms in 2023 as the category begins its recovery from the heavy losses seen in 2021 and 2022. Sales of RTD tea experienced a dramatic decline in these two years due to the withdrawal of…

Soft drinks has continued to see healthy growth in retail volume and current value terms in 2023. Sales have been supported by consumers returning to their old consumption habits now that the pandemic is over. Although sales have seen steady growth…

Retail volume sales of soft drinks slowed in 2023 over the previous year, while the on-trade made a return to pre-pandemic levels. Although rising health consciousness supported growth in juice to the detriment of carbonates, carbonates and bottled…

Sports drinks has seen strong growth in retail volume terms in 2023, which has been in large part due to the outstanding performance of the Generade brand from Industrias San Miguel del Caribe SA. The brand has energised the category thanks to its…

Bolivia has managed to protect itself to a large extent from inflation by continuing to have a fixed exchange rate against the dollar. However, there has been challenges for the economy in 2023, with sharp falls in foreign currency reserves and this…

Staple foods in Colombia in 2023 is significantly influenced by food price-related issues, inflation, and the country's GDP evolution. The historically high inflation experienced in 2022 continued to be a major concern for all stakeholders in staple…