Latin America

Off-trade demand for carbonates in Chile is improving in 2023. Following an abnormal year in 2021 and a more normalised performance in 2022, the category is experiencing a rise in volumes in 2023. Like most categories in 2022 and 2023, carbonates has…

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…

While carbonates continues to be the most popular soft drink in Bolivia, it has reached maturity and volume growth is expected to be muted in 2023. Continuing population growth supports volume sales. but overall carbonates is expected to be the…

Coca-Cola continues to lead carbonates overall in Argentina in 2023, gaining share thanks to its broad portfolio of brands and flavours. The player dominates cola carbonates, and is leading lemonade/lime, and orange carbonates. Coca-Cola continues to…

The cannabis market in Mexico is estimated to be worth MXN33,650 million, with 95% of it being sold through the illicit market.

Colombia, historically linked with drug trafficking, has undergone a noteworthy transformation by actively cultivating a well-regulated cannabis industry. The legalisation of medical cannabis, the establishment of a legal framework for licensed…

The cannabis culture in Chile is at an intermediate stage of development compared to other countries in Latin America. Since decriminalisation of cannabis for medicinal use in 2016, Chile has witnessed an explosion in “grow shops” and home growing to…

Contrary to expectations, the national government did not advance hemp legislation for medical and industrial purposes in 2023. Instead, it opted to sidestep a potentially contentious debate, prioritising a comprehensive tax reformulation on its…

Argentina faced an uncertain macroeconomic scenario due to political disfunction and economic instability, with one of the highest inflation rates in the world, although according to Comisión Económica para América Latina y Caribe (CEPAL), gross…

Cafés/bars continued to see significant growth in both transactions and current value terms in 2023, particularly in chains, although independence continued to represent the largest percentage of transactions. Growth was driven by the dynamism that…

The quest to attract consumers back to cafés/bars in Mexico is a constant in the channel, which has especially intensified post-pandemic. This has led to the resurgence of various in-person events, such as the Rock Duel at McCarthy's Irish Pub,…

In spite of continuing rising prices in 2023, cafés/bars registered an increase in constant value sales and there was also further opening of new outlets. However, profit margins were under strain, as costs also continued to rise. These rising costs,…

In Chile, the historical hindrances of higher prices, limited accessibility, and inadequate information have impeded the widespread embrace of specialist coffee shops. Despite recent shifts, where specialist coffee shops and roasteries have gained…

Having recovered to pre-pandemic value sales levels in 2022, cafés/bars in Brazil continued to record a positive performance in 2023. An easing of pandemic-related restrictions in Brazil in 2022 fuelled the desire for out-of-home experiences that…

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic Argentina has seen significant growth in independent specialist coffee and tea shops, particularly through small outlets serving customers from a window without tables or seating space, catering more to…

Butter and spreads registered a modest increase in retail volume terms in 2022 and a similar performance is expected in 2023. As a mature category, there is little room for growth in butter and spreads. However, the category experienced high demand…

Even though consumers are increasingly aware of the health benefits of butter, margarine and spreads continues to account for most volume sales and registers the highest value and volume growth in 2023. Consumers are price sensitive, as the economy…

In 2023, inflationary pressures have had a noticeable impact on the price of butter and spreads. This has encouraged some consumers to shift towards lower priced options such as cooking oils which resulted in a slowdown in the growth of butter and…

Butter and spreads is expected to register moderate current value growth, but constant value sales are expected to fall as persistent inflation cuts into profitability. In addition, with persistent inflation, consumers are expected to trade down –…

Butter consumption in Ecuador is relatively low compared to other countries in the region. This is due in part to the availability of cheaper alternatives such as margarine, which are more commonly used for both cooking and baking. Margarine has a…