Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products in Costa Rica

PROSPECTS

Demand increases for specialised and healthier products

Major health and wellness trends observed in the country, including healthier snacking and breakfast habits, will continue to have a positive impact on the demand for yoghurt. The expanding consumer base comprises local buyers from all socioeconomic segments of the population who often view yoghurt as a functional dairy alternative as a result of the wide promotion of its probiotic content.

Greater segmentation addresses demand for both functional and indulgent yoghurt

Snacking indulgence versus functional health and wellness features continues to drive the demand for yoghurt among different groups of local buyers. For Costa Ricans, yoghurt consumption often represents a healthier alternative to other types of sweet snacks and dairy options with higher fat levels (such as cheese, cream and ice cream) which have no active probiotic content.

Vegan and gourmet yoghurt options expected to attract affluent buyers

Additional levels of segmentation and further specialisation are expected to impact yoghurt’s sales dynamics over the forecast period. New developments such as vegan options and more specialised gourmet proposals such as buffalo and sheep milk yoghurt are anticipated to reach modern grocery retailers’ refrigerators.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Leaders benefit from wide availability and strong consumer awareness of their brands

Local RL Cooperativa de Productos de Leche Dos Pinos continues to dominate yoghurt sales in Costa Rica. Its Dos Pinos and Coronado brands benefit from consumers’ top-of-mind brand awareness as a result of broad product availability (even among traditional grocery retailers), wide segmentation, affordable pricing, and constant innovation efforts.

New players and added-value proposals continue to boost yoghurt sales

The remaining yoghurt sales, after Dos Pinos, Coronado and Yoplait, remain quite fragmented among a large number of local and imported brands which are individually developing different levels of segmentation to reach more specific groups of buyers in Costa Rica. However, the 2018 entrance of regionally dominant Mexican dairy manufacturer Grupo Lala is beginning to gain momentum in yoghurt sales.

Smaller players expected to advance niche products such as vegan yoghurt

Niche-orientated value proposals are expected to gain momentum over the forecast period. Smaller domestic players are expected to take the lead in relation to the development of healthier functional proposals, such as vegan yoghurts.

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