Latin America

While the pandemic, when it first hit the region, resulted in a slight decline in off-trade volume sales of soft drinks and a steep fall in on-trade volumes in Latin America in 2020, both channels have since been recording positive growth, including…

Sports drinks is experiencing continuous growth, stimulated by the prevailing health and fitness lifestyle trend and exacerbated by the recent tap water crisis. Following the COVID-19 crisis, sales of sports drinks have shown robust retail volume…

Uruguay experienced a notable economic upturn of in the previous year but eventually faced a recession due to irregular and insufficient rainfall that evolved into a severe drought by the end of 2022. This prolonged crisis persisted until June 2023,…

Despite a moderate growth in off-trade volume sales for RTD (Ready-to-Drink) tea in 2023, the overall consumption landscape remains underdeveloped and lacks popularity among Uruguayan consumers. This modest upturn follows a series of declines over…

100% juice experienced significant growth in 2023, primarily fuelled by the prevailing health and wellness trend. Consumer inclination towards healthier and natural juice options has surged. The increased demand for vitamin C, prompted by COVID-19…

Energy drinks continued its strong growth trajectory in retail volume sales, driven by habitual consumption patterns among consumers. Montevideo Refrescos SA's Monster brand, catering to a younger demographic inclined towards extreme sports and…

Concentrates displayed a modest resurgence in off-trade volume sales following a decline in 2022, primarily propelled by decreased demand for powder concentrates. The tap water crisis, attributed to poor water quality due to high sodium content in…

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…

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…

Technological advances in 2024 will continue to reshape consumer behaviour. This annual report explores the top five digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this report’s edition…

The aftermath of the pandemic resulted in a notable shift in consumer preferences towards products that emphasise health and wellbeing within various foods and beverages. This change has reverberated across various product categories, notably…

In 2023, local consumers remained cautious with their spending as they prepared to cope with economic uncertainty. Spending wisely meant that they prioritised essential products and limited their consumption of non-essentials. Off-trade volume sales…

In Mexico, there is a discernible shift among consumers to choose natural beverage options. This evolving trend is characterised by heightened interest in products crafted with natural ingredients and devoid of artificial additives. As…

The surge in demand for RTD coffee in 2023 can be attributed to a multifaceted interplay of factors, foremost among them being the escalating consumer preference for convenient and on-the-go coffee solutions. As part of fast-paced lifestyles,…

The health-conscious trend is on the rise in Mexico, leading to increasing demand for products that promote overall wellbeing and offer functional benefits. Local consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy…

Despite budget limitations stemming from high inflation, sales of energy drinks sustained a positive trajectory in 2023. This resilience can be attributed to Mexicans' perception of these beverages as a convenient source for a quick energy boost, and…

After returning to pre-pandemic lifestyles, consumption occasions have witnessed certain changes in Mexico. With increasing numbers of consumers venturing out of their homes, the convenience provided by RTD concentrates has become increasingly…

Carbonates in Mexico observed a significant increase in value sales in 2023. This was driven by price increases as players responded to inflationary pressures, but also by a shift towards smaller formats as consumers resumed out-of-home activities…

Sparkling flavoured bottled water remained a niche in Mexico at the end of the review period, but witnessed important expansion in terms of availability of new brands. These beverages offer refreshing flavours while containing fewer calories and…

In 2023, Guatemalans were eager to resume activities outside the home. The fear of contagion from the COVID-19 Coronavirus was less relevant for the majority of the population, leading to the return of sports activities and socialising. As a result,…

Soft drinks continues to be affected by inflationary pressures in 2023, which prices continuing to rise, but at a slower pace. This had a notable impact on shopping behaviour, with consumers more cautious about their purchases, especially those in…

Off-trade RTD tea volume sales have been growing steadily in Guatemala. Some consumers consider RTD tea to be a healthier option than soft drinks, such as carbonated drinks. Tea in general has a wholesome image in Guatemala, which has had a…

RTD coffee is a small, yet stable category in Guatemala which continues to witness steady retail volume growth in 2023, although there has been a slow down due to price increases. Coffee prices have risen in international markets and this has equally…

Leading brands in the juice category continued to witness sustained growth in 2023, in retail volume terms, aided by their positioning as a healthier choice of beverage. Brands such as Del Frutal from Alimentos Maravilla SA, with their single serve…

Retail volumes of energy drinks continue to show sustained growth in Guatemala. The product is increasingly associated as a source of energy for workers who perform physical activities, such as construction workers, farmers, or workers on night or…

Powder concentrates witnessed a slowdown in the years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The product was becoming obsolete, with younger generations of consumers put off by the lack of convenience as it needs to be prepared before consumption. In…

In 2023, carbonates continued to witness retail price increases, although to a lesser extent than in previous years. Commodities such as sugar continued to show volatility in international markets. By April 2023, sugar had reached its highest price…

Although Guatemalans have been eager to resume pre-pandemic habits, the consumption of water in bulk 5-gallon format continued to rise in 2023. Due to the increased awareness of healthy lifestyles and practices, household water consumption has become…

Sports drinks has witnessed an impressive performance over much of the review period, with off-trade volume sales recording double-digit growth in 2021 and 2022. While volume sales in 2023 have marginally declined, overall demand remains…

Demand for soft drinks is growing despite the challenges faced in 2022 and in the first half of 2023, characterised by high inflation and weakened demand. Major categories such as carbonates and bottled water have demonstrated resilience, while…

RTD tea in Chile does not necessarily follow its hot drinks counterpart. In contrast to the sluggish growth of regular tea in 2023, RTD tea continues to record substantial volume growth. While RTD tea has faced inflationary pressures like its hot…

OKF Cappuccino is the leading brand of RTD coffee in Chile, and while traditionally it was available in various mainstream retailers and pharmacies, this scenario has changed significantly in 2023. OKF Cappuccino, along with some minor brands, is no…

In 2022, price increases posed significant challenges for juice producers. The surge in inflation rates, reaching a 30-year high in Chile, impacted various categories, including juice. Within the category, supply chain disruptions and the…

Energy drinks has emerged as one of the most dynamic categories in Chilean soft drinks in recent years. With astounding growth over the review period, the category has gained a strong following, not only in the off-trade channel but also via…

As Chilean families see an increase in their incomes and new products emerge in competing categories, concentrates, often regarded as a budget-friendly option, are generally losing popularity. Powder concentrates, the primary format in the category,…

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…

Bottled water has emerged as one of the top-performing categories in 2023. Even in the face of challenging conditions in 2022, it demonstrated impressive resilience. In 2023, bottled water continues its upward trajectory by capitalising on…

The year 2023 marked substantial growth for hydrating beverage brands, propelled by a notable increase in the country's average temperature due to El Niño at the year's onset and in the latter half of the year. These weather patterns intensified the…

The increases seen in sales of sports drinks in Ecuador in recent years can be attributed to a confluence of factors that reflect a broader shift towards a more health-conscious and active lifestyle. This multi-dimensional transformation in consumer…

In the post-pandemic era, Costa Ricans have resumed sports and exercise regimes, including group activities and competitions. Sports drinks has benefited from this return to normalcy as consumers use them to fuel during sports and/or refuel after…

Sports drinks continues to grow from strength to strength and in 2023 is expected to register double-digit volume growth. One factor driving this healthy growth is an expanding consumer base. Not only are sports drinks consumed by athletes looking to…

The year 2023 witnessed significant growth among soft drinks players, primarily influenced by a notable rise in the country's average temperature. This increase was largely attributed to the onset of El Niño at the year's commencement and in the…

2023 witnessed another strong performance for Ecuador’s soft drinks industry as the challenges of previous years have largely been overcome. The entire industry has endured significant setbacks stemming from negative public perceptions of a series of…

Soft drinks faced a difficult year in 2023 as high levels of inflation were exacerbated by the appreciation of the Costa Rica Colón vis-à-vis the US dollar. Inflation led to unit price increases across a range of soft drinks categories, although…

Bolivia has managed to protect itself to a large extent from inflation by continuing to have a fixed exchange rate against the dollar. However, there has been challenges for the economy in 2023, with sharp falls in foreign currency reserves and this…

The significantly warmer climate experienced in 2023, attributed to El Niño, has reinvigorated Ready-to-Drink (RTD) tea. This resurgence in consumption, as a favoured hydrating drink, marks a substantial shift from recent years of stagnation. Despite…

One of the defining features of RTD tea in Ecuador is that Fuze Tea by The Coca-Cola Co is by far the largest and most influential player, profoundly shaping trends in the category and commanding an overwhelming majority of category sales. This…

Despite the inflationary climate in Costa Rica, the RTD tea category did not experience the same sudden price increases as other soft drinks. This benefited the category in terms of both volume and value growth as consumers did not feel as compelled…

RTD tea is expected to register volume growth in 2023, supported by continuing population growth and also stable prices for local brands, which have been protected to an extent from global inflationary pressures. The segment is also seeing continuing…

RTD coffee in Peru remains relatively niche, with awareness and penetration significantly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the initial launch of new brands like Nescafé Cold Brew in early 2020, accompanied by extensive marketing…