Uruguay

Beauty and personal care brands, including players such as Avon, continued to represent the largest part of the direct selling business. In 2022, these players were able to leverage their longstanding relationship with consumers, using their solid…

The reduction in spending power in Argentina and the rise of prices in Uruguay have impacted the results of some of the key players in grocery retailers. The exchange between Uruguay and Argentina has traditionally been strong, with a long-standing…

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, restrictions on travel and socialising heavily impacted certain non-grocery retailers, as consumers were confided to the household. With the risk of COVID-19 reducing, the government has lifted restrictions on…

The make-up of e-commerce in Uruguay and the current retail environment has resulted in third party merchants holding considerable value share in the channel. Beyond those third party merchants, grocery retailers have a strong share. Henderson &…

Inflation and ongoing price increases significantly impacted the retail industry in 2022. High price rises led to changing consumer behaviours, with a drop in demand as many were looking to delay significant purchases, reducing and adapting their…

In 2022, chocolate confectionery sales surpassed their pre-pandemic levels again in volume and real value terms and were expected to continue seeing positive growth in 2023. While impulse channels such as kiosks, which are included under small local…

After seeing a major decline in 2020, when the pandemic first arrived in Uruguay, followed by a further fall in sales in 2021, gum registered a rebound in volume and value terms in 2022, with positive growth also expected for 2023, although sales…

Ice cream continued to register positive volume growth in 2022, with another sales increase expected to be seen in 2023. With a number of heatwaves and a hotter summer than usual, the demand for ice cream increased considerably in the summer months…

Savoury snacks was recording positive growth in volume and value terms in 2022, with a similar trend expected in 2023. All the categories in savoury snacks were registering increasing sales in 2022, with this also expected to be the case in 2023.…

In 2022, GDP in Uruguay increased by 4.9%, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and was continuing to grow in 2023, helping to drive demand for snacks. Tourism, mainly international tourist visitors from Argentina and Brazil, was badly affected during the…

Sugar confectionery continued to see a strong rebound in 2022 in volume terms, with further positive growth expected in 2023, when sales are expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels. Although a mandatory quarantine was not enforced during the…

In 2022, sweet biscuits recorded positive volume growth after two years of registering declining sales, with positive growth also expected in 2023. The good performances in 2022 and 2023 are, in part, explained by a better supply after the production…

Milk formula registered positive retail volume growth for the third consecutive year in 2023. Price increases are creating some changes to demand, with budget-conscious parents shifting to cheaper alternatives, such as cow´s milk. Since the COVID-19…

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…

Per capita cheese consumption in Uruguay is among the highest in Latin America and the world, due to its long tradition of cheese production. After a soft contraction in 2022, retail volume sales is expected to achieve positive growth in 2023.…

In 2023, dairy products and alternatives registered modest growth in volume terms, following a contraction in 2022. The poor performance in both years can be partly explained by a conflict between the leading company Cooperativa Nacional de…

After a decline in supply in 2022, improved milk production is pushing retail volume sales back into growth in 2023. Conflict between the leader supplier Cooperativa Nacional de Productores de Leche (Conaprole) and trade unions reduced the supply of…

Chilled and shelf stable dairy desserts registered a decrease in retail volume terms in 2022, but a modest rebound is expected in 2023. During the second half of 2022, the second leading player Cooperativa Nacional de Productores de Leche (Conaprole)…

Plant-based dairy is still underdeveloped in Uruguay with brand and products focused mainly in plant-based milk. However, consumers are becoming more aware about healthier and sustainable options, with new local producers emerging as well as…

Retail volume sales of yoghurt and sour milk products is expected to recover in 2023, following production problems in the previous year. Conflicts between the leading companies and trade unions resulted in general strikes and a reduced supply of raw…

Though current value sales are expected to rise, constant value sales are expected to fall, as continuing rising operating costs cut into profitability. In 2023, with concerns about COVID-19 abating, demand for analgesics reduces to more normal…

The picture is fairly positive in 2023, with constant value sales expected to rise slightly and inflationary pressure easing. However, rising prices are still an issue and the overall economy is expected to register a slowdown in growth.

With value sales of cough and cold and allergy ( hay fever) remedies reducing to more normal levels. as concern about COVID-19 abate, there is expected to be a decline in volume sales in 2023. The exception being medicated confectionery. Along with…

Dermatologicals is expected to register moderate constant value and volume growth in 2023. Dermatologicals continues to recover from the removal of pandemic restrictions. With patients again visiting doctors for the last two years, this is a…

For the second consecutive year, dietary supplements is expected to register a significant fall in volume sales. Two main factors are causing this negative performance. With concerns about COVID-19 abating, consumers are less concerned about boosting…

Digestive remedies is expected to register moderate constant value and volume growth in 2023. With society fully opened up and people leading hectic lives, with less time to prepare healthy meals, this is leading to increased digestive issues. Also,…

Herbal/traditional products are expected to register a slight fall in constant value sales, as continuing rising prices hits profitability. That being said, demand is steady, and there is an increasing range of herbal/traditional products available…

Value sales for paediatric consumer health continues to be low in Uruguay and in 2023 it is expected to register a slight decrease in constant value sales, as continuing rising prices cuts into profitability. Analgesics continues to account for most…

Sports nutrition continues to be benefit from the full opening of society post pandemic lockdowns, with people being more active and attending gyms once again. As such sports nutrition is expected to register healthy constant value and volume growth…

Vitamins are expected to register a further significant decline in volume sales in 2023. The boon from the pandemic is long over and vitamins that claim immune boosting benefits are seeing a significant decline. Vitamin C in particular is expected to…

Growth in values sales in weight management and wellbeing is expected to be slightly above inflation. Its positive performance is attributable to wider distribution beyond pharmacies, with increasing distribution through modern grocery retailers.…

Wound care is expected to register moderate constant value and some volume growth in 2023. Wound care continues to recover from the removal of pandemic restrictions. With people out and about once again, and participating in physical actives, there…

In 2023, cooking ingredients and meals registered a modest growth in volume terms, as it faced various challenges. The weaker purchasing power seen in 2022 has continued in 2023 and is impacting negatively on demand, although mainly in sweet spreads…

Pressure on households budgets is driving many Uruguayans to cross the border into Argentina and buy edible oils, alongside other grocery items, at a cheaper price. According to industry sources, edible oil retail prices are up to 70% cheaper in…

Dry soup remains the largest category in sauces, dips and condiments, in current value terms. The reduction of imports, largely from Argentina, is hindering retail volume sales in 2023. Category leader Unilever del Uruguay SA leads sales of dry soup…

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…

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…

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…

Packaged leavened bread registered a further contraction in retail volume sales in 2023, as strong price increases were brought about by rising costs. Demand has also been curbed by the many Uruguayans crossing the border into Argentina in order to…

In 2023, sales of breakfast cereals declined in retail volume and current value terms. The increase in prices, as well as the required health labels, warning about excess levels of sugar, has reduced demand for breakfast cereals. Children´s breakfast…

In 2023, the drought and scarcity of safe water sources in Uruguay has compelled locals to make changes to their dietary choices, replacing fresh vegetables and fruit with frozen and shelf stable options. With the ongoing challenges of washing fresh…

In 2023, many Uruguayans are travelling across the border into Argentina to purchase more affordable shelf-stable meat and seafood, as well as cheaper chilled processed red meat. This trend has had a negative impact on local sales in Uruguay, as…

In 2023, rice and pasta registered a decline in retail volume sales, as consumers were deterred by higher retail prices. Rising international cost have plagued dried and fresh pasta in particular, forcing manufacturers to raise prices. Another…

In 2023, staple foods has registered a marginal decrease in retail volume terms as consumers reduce consumption in order to save money. High prices remain an issue for Uruguayans and this is impacting negatively on demand. Furthermore, the…

Due to the drought suffered in Uruguay over the past two years, the quality of the running water was impacted in 2023, containing 400mg of sodium and being unsuitable for drinking. This was seen in the cities of Montevideo, Canelones and San Jose.…

In 2023, drought continued in Uruguay, having an ongoing impact on the hot drinks landscape. Lack of water impacted more than half of Uruguay's 3.5 million citizens, leading to significantly slower agricultural production and directly impacting the…

Other hot drinks recorded a sluggish performance in 2023, driven by the decline in other plant-based hot drinks (yerba maté), which make up the majority of other hot drink sales in Uruguay. The drought in Uruguay impacted the running water. Since it…

Due to the drought suffered across Uruguay, the quality of tap water was impacted in 2023. With a high level of sodium, tap water was unsuitable for consumption. The Uruguayan government responded to the crisis by giving away bottled water to…

The drought experienced over the past two years in Uruguay severely impacted the quality of running water, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption due to its high sodium content of 400mg. This affected cities like Montevideo, Canelones, and San…

The past two years of drought in Uruguay have adversely affected the quality of running water, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption due to its 400mg sodium content. This issue was particularly prevalent in Montevideo, Canelones, and San…