Latin America

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…

Following the major spike in demand seen in 2020, when the COVID-19 restrictions meant more cooking and eating at home, sales in real value terms have continued to increase, albeit at a slower rate. This is in spite of the inflationary environment…

Amid the constraints imposed by the impacts of the pandemic, rising inflation, the devaluation of the Brazilian real against the US dollar, and successive restrictions in various global supply chains, players have had to concentrate their efforts on…

Despite the easing of the consumer price index throughout 2022, Brazilian consumers continued to pay high prices for food items. Like other categories, sauces, dips and condiments has experienced a period of widespread price increases that persists…

Economic uncertainty in 2022 impacted access not only to high-value products in Brazil but also to basic items for various consumer groups in the country. The inflationary process triggered by macroeconomic policies, combined with external shocks to…

The recent trajectory of edible oils in Brazil brings with it dynamics influenced by both the consumption of a product predominantly manufactured abroad, such as olive oil, and by its commodity-like characteristics, as seen in soy oil. The average…

Retail demand for cooking ingredients and meals experienced a slowdown in 2022 during a period of high inflation. Throughout the year, the intensification of a phenomenon locally known as the “hourglass” effect was evident. It divided consumers into…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

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…

Chocolate spreads maintained its growth in 2023, in contrast to other categories within sweet spreads, which registered high growth rates during the COVID-19 crisis, but then saw sales fall away as life returned to normal and people started going…

The jams and preserves category holds significant importance in terms of retail volume sales, following substantial growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, volume growth has returned to normal rates with retail prices stabilising. Local brands…

Historically, chocolate spreads have been an expensive option for Ecuadorians and is usually only found in modern retail channels where shoppers tend to have higher purchasing power. As a result, chocolate spreads have been inaccessible to a large…

Jams and preserves is the largest category by volume with the majority of production originating from local companies that use well-known and popular fruits. While some imported brands are available in the Dominican Republic, they are less prevalent…

Honey is expected to register the highest current value growth, Consumers perceive honey as a healthy option as it is a natural product which is rich in minerals, vitamins and trace elements and as such honey continues to perform well. That being…

Retail sales of sweet spreads are seeing growth boosted in Colombia in 2023 by the expansion of consumption opportunities, with consumers increasingly choosing to use chocolate spreads as ingredients in the preparation of home-made desserts and…

Sweet spreads are expected to register a decrease in volume sales in 2023. Part of this decline is due to the widespread availability of smuggled sweet spreads in outdoor markets. Smuggling has increased significantly in recent years. Bolivia’s fixed…

Following impressive growth during the first half of the review period, chocolate spreads in Argentina saw retail volume sales contract in 2022. While the rate of decline has slowed, the category is poised to register another negative performance in…

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…

Powders are replacing cubes as the preferred format for stock in Peru. Consumers prefer powders for reasons of practicality, as they are perceived to be easier to use and dissolve. They also come in smaller pack sizes and can be bought in single unit…

Despite its maturity, ketchup is witnessing robust growth as lower-quality value offerings gain traction in the category. The surge in retail prices has created a favourable environment for domestic producers, supporting cheaper brands, such as B&B…

Private label continues to gain prominence within sauces, dips and condiments. Ecuador's largest retailer, Corporación Favorita, has a range of private label options including Akí and Supermaxi, as well as La Original, which is the cheapest option…

Ketchup continues to lead in cooking and table sauces in the Dominican Republic. Brands are innovating by introducing stand-up pouches that provide greater convenience for consumers, such as from the likes of Gourmet, Linda, Heinz and Famosa.…

The variety of formats and brands available for pasta sauces has increased over the past few years, with newer options including Kern’s 435g jars, Naturas 430g jars, Great Value and Rao’s 680g jars; Sabemas stand-up pouches; Del Monte and Contadina…

Remote and hybrid working models are shifting consumption habits towards more flexible patterns of eating at more convenient times, with the impact of rising living costs on consumer confidence and household spending levels also supporting these…

Sauces, dips and condiments are expected to register healthy current value and volume growth in 2023. With increasing inflationary pressure, consumers look to cook at home, with cooking ingredients and condiments especially performing well. That…

Sauces, dips and condiments has recorded another solid performance in retail volume terms in 2023, with growth expected to be up slightly on 2022. The resumption of pre-pandemic routines has helped to lift overall demand, in that as the pace of life…

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…

Growth in the meals and soups category has been driven by value rather than volume. With a marked rise in prices generally, volume sales have contracted. This has been a particularly prominent feature of categories like this, which are usually not…

In 2023, meals and soups witnessed a moderate lift in retail volume sales as consumption of dry soups increased. Standard brands, including Maggi, Malher and Knorr, continue to characterise soup in 2023 with similar products, flavours and unit…

Dry soup is a prominent category within the packaged food industry in Ecuador. Nestlé Ecuador is the leading player due to its popular and affordable Maggi brand, which has an extensive portfolio focused on cream and traditional soups and newer…

Meals and soups continues to be impacted by rising prices in 2023 as inflation remains high, resulting in double-digit current value growth. Since 2022, increases in the cost of raw materials, shipping costs, labour wages and energy have led to…

Meals and soups is expected to register both current value and volume growth in 2023. With society fully opened up post pandemic, and consumers leading busy lives, they appreciate the convenience of meals and coups, with ready meals in particular…

Sales of ready meals are declining in retail volume terms in 2023, with people returning to their normal routines and spending more time outside of the home thanks to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. This is seeing a shift back towards…

Meals and soup are expected to register a decrease in volume sales in 2023. In particular, soup is expected to register a steep volume decline. Part of this decline is due to the widespread availability of smuggled soup in outdoor markets. Smuggling…

After several years of decline, soup in Argentina saw overall retail volume sales return to positive territory in 2022. While it looks set to record an improved performance in this regard in 2023, growth remains modest, partly due to strong…

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…

Peru has been experiencing a sustained increase in prices since 2021, with prices growing most rapidly in 2022 but continuing to rise in 2023. Although Peru is a country that has strong local brands, many of the final products and supplies are…

Stand-up pouches have become increasingly popular in the edible oil category in 2023. This stand-up pouch is becoming more prevalent in the landscape, as it is considered as a useful alternative to PET and glass bottles. Capullo from Naturaceites SA…

In 2023, the price of edible oil in Ecuador has stabilized following the soaring prices witnessed in 2022. Global oil prices have decreased and the emergence of hard discount chains, such as Tuti, are fostering greater price competition, with other…

Retail prices of edible oils continued to rise in 2023 due to the inflationary climate, although at a slower rate than was witnessed in 2022. External factors, such as the high price of commodities and the war in Ukraine, have impacted the supply…

Both constant and current values are expected to fall, as edible oil prices see a gradual fall in 2023, from the highs of the previous year, that were mainly caused by shortages caused by the war in Ukraine. Not surprisingly, volume sales are…

Global prices of cooking oils have been rising since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with the price hikes intensified thanks to the war in Ukraine and the resultant regional shortage of sunflower oil. Though no such shortage was noted in Colombia during…

Edible oils is expected to register a slight decrease in volume sales in 2023. That being said, consumers have not been exposed to the same global inflationary pressures for edible oils as many other countries arising both from the war in Ukraine and…

To secure an adequate domestic supply of edible oils and keep prices for consumers at affordable levels, early in 2023 the Argentinian government renewed its subsidy agreement with members of industry representative group CIARA (Chamber of the Oil…

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…

Peru has been experiencing a sustained increase in prices since 2021, which slowed down but persisted in 2023.

While value sales rose of cooking ingredients and meals rose in 2023, volume sales contracted. High inflation forced consumers to reduce the frequency of purchases. Nevertheless, while poverty and income inequality characterise Paraguay’s small…

Cooking ingredients and meals slowed in volume terms in 2023 while value sales rose strongly due to rising inflation. Substantial unit price increases put significant pressure on household incomes, resulting in a more conservative approach to…

Cooking ingredients and meals registered value sales growth across the market in 2023 due to rising prices while volume sales growth was modest. Consumers sought out lower priced options such as private label and stand-up pouches due to ongoing…

In 2023, inflation has begun to subside in Guatemala although retail price inflation continues to impact the basic food basket. Lower prices of some imported goods, regulatory interest rate policies and reduced agricultural production costs have…