Dairy Products and Alternatives in Latin America

December 2023

In spite of rising costs and prices in recent years, sales of dairy products and alternatives have continued to grow in real value terms in Latin America. The essential nature of products like cheese has helped maintain demand for them, while sales of baby food have been boosted by a return to normal working habits post-pandemic. The high inflation has seen volume sales struggle in recent years, but the forecast period is expected to see positive growth in both volume and value terms.

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Key findings

Continued positive value growth despite difficult economic environment

At a time when many countries in the region were facing high inflation, pushing up costs for industry suppliers and players and therefore also end prices for consumers, volume sales were struggling at the end of the 2018-2023 period, although dairy products and alternatives was still managing to record positive value growth.

Protein-enriched products gaining favour in Brazil

The addition of components such as protein, creatine or BCAAs to dairy products is increasingly common in Brazil. Pioneered in flavoured milk drinks by Danone’s YoPRO, other players have since been adding their own protein-enhanced products, meeting the demand for healthier indulgence as well as diversifying the dairy industry in Brazil.

Plant-based dairy ripe for development

Albeit from small bases, plant-based dairy has been recording strong growth in a number of markets in Latin America. In Colombia, for example, plant-based milk has long since moved beyond soy drinks to take in products based on almonds, oats, rice, coconut etc. Burgeoning health and sustainability trends should help drive further growth across the region, although the price differential to cow’s milk-based products remains a potential stumbling block.

Players reformulating products due to on-pack labelling regulations

Black octagons or seals as on-pack warning labels about the high salt, sugar or fat content in packaged food products are being seen in an increasing number of countries in the region. This is leading industry players to utilise new ingredients or formulas to avoid them, boosting the number of products available with reduced or even zero levels of these contents.

Scope
Key findings
Latin America outperforming the global averages for growth
Positive value growth expected to continue being seen in the coming years
Dairy dominates sales in the overall category in Latin America
Brazil and Mexico add more than USD5.5 billion in new dairy sales over 2018-2023
Belt-tightening in 2023 hits Mexico’s previously strong plant-based dairy growth
Dairy dominates the new sales added over 2018-2023
Argentina joins the countries with labelling regulations for unhealthy products
Small local grocers the main distribution channel in Latin America
Retail e-commerce still gaining share in 2023, but remains a minor sales channel
Competitive landscapes remain concentrated in most countries in Latin America
Growing presence of private label in Mexico
Nestlé represented across the Latin America region
Lala and Nido remain the leading brands throughout 2018-2023
Steady value growth of around 3% a year expected over the forecast period
Health warning labels likely to lead to reformulations and different ingredients
Argentina: Market Context
Argentina: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Bolivia: Market Context
Bolivia: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Brazil: Market Context
Brazil: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Chile: Market Context
Chile: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Colombia: Market Context
Colombia: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Costa Rica: Market Context
Costa Rica: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Dominican Republic: Market Context
Dominican Republic: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Ecuador: Market Context
Ecuador: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Guatemala: Market Context
Guatemala: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Mexico: Market Context
Mexico: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Peru: Market Context
Peru: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Uruguay: Market Context
Uruguay: Competitive and Retail Landscape
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