Costa Rica

As pre-pandemic life resumes in Costa Rica, consumers are enjoying being outside and socializing once again, especially in Costa Rica´s warm climate. Retail volume sales in ice cream parlours continues to recover in 2023, although this trend is…

With inflation remaining high in 2023, brand loyalty remains weak among most lower income consumers, who normally purchase the cheapest option available when it comes to salty snacks. Price-competition is therefore stronger in the mass segment, as…

Increased socialising and the return to post-pandemic habits is supporting the snacks category in 2023. Although inflation continues to cut into discretionary incomes and consumers remain price sensitive, most consumers have become accustomed to…

Children who were not able to celebrate their birthday with friends in 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, returned to full party celebrations in 2022 and 2023. Sugar confectionery is frequently purchased for children´s birthday parties…

High inflation continues to drive lower income consumers towards price promotions in 2023, with trading down to cheaper options and private labels also a common trend. Brand loyalty is generally quite weak in sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit…

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,…

Insight into income, wealth and expenditure of consumers and households is vital in helping businesses make strategic decisions with regards to which country (or even which region within a country) to enter, which consumer segment to target, which…

Rising inflation has caused consumers to be increasingly stressed in 2023, with rising price points and ongoing economic uncertainty negatively impacting lives. This ongoing uncertainty has led to an increase in physical discomforts; often in the…

In 2023, increased socialising and the return to post-pandemic habits support the growth of several OTC categories. However, high inflation and a fluctuating exchange rate continue to create uncertainty. Inflation in Costa Rica was 8.27% in 2022, the…

At the end of 2022, there was an increase in the need to treat cold and flu symptoms. This was driven by the return of socialising following periods of social distancing, increased hand washing and the wearing of face masks throughout most of 2020…

As consumers face stress due to economic uncertainty and skin imbalances after COVID-19, many suffer from hair loss, helping category growth. While some consumers opt for dietary supplements to avoid hair loss, others turn to shampoos or other…

Omega-3 supplements have gained immense popularity in Costa Rica due to the growing awareness among people about their health benefits. Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential nutrients that cannot be produced by the body, and are therefore…

In 2023, consumers are enjoying their newfound freedom following the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions. As such, this has led to an increased use of foodservice, with consumers eating out at restaurants, having parties, and drinking with friends.…

"Macrobioticas" or health food stores, can be found nationwide, and in some parts of the country, their presence is even more visible than that of pharmacies. Traditional healers, known as curanderos or yerberos, are often consulted for advice and…

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…

Sports nutrition witnessed an upturn in current value sales in 2022 as consumers left COVID-19 fears behind and returned to gyms and their usual sporting activities. Moving into 2023, Many Costa Ricans focus on losing weight gained during the…

Consumers having less disposable income has impacted their purchasing habits in 2023, including their choices regarding healthcare products and vitamins. Rather than investing in preventative measures like vitamins, consumers are opting for more…

During 2022 and 2023, Ozempic injections have started to be used by consumers who do not have type 2 diabetes to lose weight. Popularised by international media, higher-income consumers who can afford them have resorted to using these injections to…

The growth of sports and indoor and outdoor activities, as well as children returning to school, has led to increased injuries compared to the previous years of COVID-19 restrictions. This, in turn, has driven the demand for first aid products in…

Current value sales are expected to increase, along with a slight increase in volume sales. While there is still economic uncertainty, as a result of rising inflation, the growth in inflation is expected to ease. That being said, consumers are…