Latin America

Inflation continues to impact consumer shopping habits in 2023, with consumers seeking out low prices and private label in the staple foods category, as they look to make grocery budgets stretch further. The government has implemented aggressive…

While Ecuador has maintained one of the lowest inflation rates in the region, a combination of factors has led to upward price pressures in Staple Foods. The rising costs of key ingredients like wheat, oil or butter have continued in 2023, with…

The bakery industry in the Dominican Republic is mainly composed of microenterprises that are highly vulnerable to any increases in raw material costs due to their limited purchasing power. External factors such as the conflict between Ukraine and…

Baked good is expected to register both moderate constant value and volume growth in 2023, in spite of continuing high inflation. Flat breads used for tortilla continues to account for most volume sales. However, prices have increased in 2023, and…

Baked goods remains on its downward trajectory in terms of volume sales in 2023, primarily due to significant price increases and changing weather patterns. Inflation is a major contributor, resulting in bread prices soaring by over 20% in the last…

A sustained increase in prices has hindered the recovery of breakfast cereals. Double-digit price increases were recorded in 2022, and inflation continues to impact all categories in 2023, especially children’s cereals and muesli and granola.…

Breakfast cereal is expected to register moderate volume growth, but marginal constant value growth, as inflation continues to hit profit margins. Imported brands in particular are hit by price rises as pressures from energy bills, transport, labour…

Breakfast cereals in Peru has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, marked by rapid price increases. With inflation rates in this category surpassing the national average, and a rise in poverty levels since the pandemic, Peruvian…

Coffee remains by far the most important area of hot drinks in Dominican Republic. Not only is the country an important coffee producer but Dominican families also have a deep-rooted habit of consuming coffee in their homes, especially fresh coffee.…

Hot drinks has continued to see dynamic growth in 2023 with this being linked largely to the performance of coffee which is the most popular option among Dominicans. Coffee is not only drunk for breakfast, but also at various times of the day, such…

Hot drinks registered a decline in retail volume sales in 2024. Despite some recovery, foodservice failed to reach pre-pandemic levels. Coffee is the largest category due to local cultivation and the popularity of specialist coffee shops. This mature…

After coffee, chocolate-based flavoured powder drinks is the most popular category of hot drinks in Dominican Republic. However, the category has seen a significant decline in sales in 2023 through the retail channel, which has been largely due to…

The relentless surge in prices has significantly impacted processed fruit and vegetables, resulting in a notable slowdown in retail volume growth across the categories, with consumers shifting towards fresh produce in search of better prices. The…

Processed fruit and vegetables is expected to register healthy growth in 2023, both in terms of constant value and volume growth. Products such as shelf stable black beans, which account for most volume sales, are economical and nutritious and appeal…

Processed fruits and vegetables in Peru is demonstrating a notable trend: unlike other packaged food categories, it has not experienced significant price increases. This relative price stability has helped to slow down the decline in volume sales…

In Peru, the political and economic instability, coupled with high inflation and reduced employment levels, has fostered the growth of chilled processed red meat. These economic challenges have led consumers to seek more cost-effective alternatives…

Following significant price increases in 2022, prices continue to rise in 2023, albeit at a lower rate. The implementation of the government’s zero tariff policy for basic basket goods to bring some relief to the country’s most vulnerable consumers…

Processed meat and seafood is expected to register a fall in constant value sales and minimal volume growth, as inflation continues to hit profit margins. Prices continue to rise as pressures from energy bills, transport, labour costs and the cost of…

The price increase in the rise, pasta and noodles category has not been as sharp as in other staple foods categories, therefore volume growth has remained steady throughout 2023. Rice and pasta, being low-cost products, have benefited from…

Rice continues to register price rises, but to a lesser extent than other staple products. Rice, as well as pasta, are seen as affordable staples and are consumed daily. There is also a wide range of brands available, across varying price points, and…

Rice, pasta and noodles in Peru has been experiencing significant growth in unit prices, primarily driven by rising manufacturing and distribution costs. Contributing factors include increased commodity prices, notably for wheat due to Russia's…

The overall inflation rate in the Dominican Republic has decreased in 2023 and is projected to close at 4.9%, compared to 9.5% in 2022, marking a significant decline in price increases. However, inflation continues to impact various staple foods…

Volume sales of staple foods saw slow growth in 2023 while values rose due to inflationary pressures. The normalisation of lifestyles in the wake of the pandemic reduced the home cooking trend and lowered demand for products such as shelf stable…

Staples foods is expected to expected to register current value and volume growth, though inflation continues to hit companies’ profitability, with constant value growth expected to be more muted.

Volume sales of staple foods saw slow growth in 2023 while values rose due to inflationary pressures. The normalisation of lifestyles in the wake of the pandemic reduced the home cooking trend and lowered demand for products such as shelf stable…

Peru has been contending with a steady escalation in prices since 2021, a situation exacerbated in 2022 and 2023, affecting a wide array of consumer goods and services. The country's significant reliance on imported products and supplies means that…

Tea remains by far the smallest category within hot drinks, with it having limited appeal among the vast majority of Dominicans. Coffee is traditionally the most preferred hot drink among locals, while tea and tea infusions are generally seen as…

As was the case throughout the review period, brands from womenswear, menswear and childrenswear have continued to enter apparel accessories and add more products to their established portfolios in the category in 2023. Argentina’s entrenched…

Total current value sales growth for apparel and footwear in Argentina in 2023 is set to surpass that recorded in 2022. However, this is solely because the country’s entrenched problems with high inflation have recently been greatly exacerbated by…

US childrenswear firm Carter's Inc recently began producing its Carter's and OshKosh brands at a facility in Argentina’s La Rioja province. Focused on garments such as t-shirts and leggings, this factory is the company’s first in Latin America and…

A large proportion of footwear sold in Argentina is manufactured domestically using imported raw materials. This is particularly the case with sports footwear from leading international brands. For example, the Brazilian Grupo Dass manufactures…

Retail sales of hosiery in Argentina have historically been concentrated in specialist stores. This is particularly the case with sheer hosiery items, which are mainly sold in outlets that also offer underwear, swimwear and nightwear. Similarly,…

Hot drinks saw a contraction in retail volume sales in 2023. Moreover, despite some recovery, foodservice failed to reach pre-pandemic levels. Coffee is the largest category due to local cultivation and the popularity of specialist coffee shops. This…

While the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades is the main reason jeans is set to record a steep decline in retail volume terms in 2023, it also continues to be more exposed to the growing willingness of Argentinians to purchase second-hand clothes…

Fashion styles and workplace dress codes for men in Argentina have been becoming more casual for several years. This trend has recently been reinforced by changes brought about by COVID-19, most notably the wider adoption of remote/hybrid work…

The soft drinks industry maintained positive growth in volume terms in 2023, although growth slowed from the previous year, as inflationary pressure undermined economic conditions. Nevertheless, the market did benefit from the revival of tourism.…

Import restrictions and capital controls have driven a number of international sportswear brands to withdraw from Argentina in recent years. Several of those that continue trading in the country meanwhile have attempted to mitigate the challenges…

Panama’s sales of staple foods are buoyed by extensive urbanisation, the rise of modern grocery retailers and wider product selection. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the resumption of pre-pandemic lifestyles, Russia’s invasion of…

Womenswear in Argentina has long been dominated by domestic companies, with international players having a relatively limited presence in the category. Despite the most severe cost-of-living crisis in a generation, premium domestic brands that…

Stability and less corruption than peers are cornerstones of Uruguay’s political environment, whilst economic freedom is one of the best regionally. Drought will weigh on short-term economic development, owing to high dependence on agriculture, but…

In 2023, bottled water has experienced a significant shift towards sustainability. A notable development was the introduction of Mamba Water, an innovative brand committed to eliminating plastic use by providing mineral water in cans. This move…

As differentiation in carbonates is becoming harder, and consumers are becoming more price-sensitive, players are searching for competitive advantages, such as looking for new claims and improving cost efficiency related to logistics and…

Concentrates is a category that was historically able to leverage and increase sales during times of crisis, as a cheap substitute for juice. Therefore, the scenario of high inflation Brazilians have faced in 2023 seemed to be an indicator of strong…

Energy drinks is set to maintain dynamic off-trade volume growth in 2023. Red Bull and Monster Energy both have ample distribution across Brazil, which is expected to maintain their positions as the two biggest brands in energy drinks in off-trade…

El Niño hit Brazil and with its hotter temperatures and rain, and greening was able to spread at a faster rate than in previous years, impairing the quality and quantity of oranges produced in Brazil. Although this seems like an isolated event,…

Throughout the pandemic, a notable shift in Brazilian consumer behaviour steered individuals towards retail outlets situated closer to their homes. This shift had its roots in both the regional lockdown mandates, and the prevalent apprehension about…

RTD tea in Brazil has been seeing the launch of innovative products that cater to ever-evolving consumer preferences. An example of this is Interfood Importação, which introduced Supernova Sweet Kombucha Pink Lemonade, which offers a sweeter and less…

In soft drinks in Brazil, multifaceted evolution is underway. The landscape is shaped by a drive towards sustainability and logistical efficiency, as companies seek differentiation amidst the strong competition. Sustainability initiatives span water…

Sports drinks was historically a category which saw little innovation, and was neglected by consumers, who searched for hydration via coconut water, which is plentiful in Brazil, or water. However, since 2021 the category has seen surprisingly…

With price sensitivity rising across the country, bottled water sales in Argentina have been noticeably affected as consumers change shift towards larger-volume formats in search of value-for-money options. In the face of economic uncertainty, with…