As price-sensitive consumers continue to seek savings, bag packaging has become increasingly popular in breakfast cereals in Costa Rica. However, these low-cost offerings are failing to attract consumers, and many are opting instead for alternatives such as baked goods, or healthier options like egg ...

Costa Ricans remain highly price sensitive in 2025, continuing to seek lower-priced items. At the same time, growing health awareness is influencing preferences toward products made with cleaner, more natural ingredients. Artisanal, unpackaged baked goods are becoming increasingly specialised in mod ...

As food inflation and cost-of-living struggles persist, and global supply uncertainty intensifies (exacerbated by the US administration's trade approach), Costa Ricans are seeking affordable staple foods. High prices were already a challenge for the industry due to climate change and geopolitical co ...

Chilled processed red meat remains popular in Costa Rica in 2025, with a variety of flavour options available in modern grocery retailers across the country to cater to diverse consumer preferences. However, as health consciousness grows, more higher-income consumers are increasing their fish consum ...

In 2025, Costa Rican consumers continue to favour pasta, rice, and noodles as affordable and filling meal options amid ongoing financial pressure. Noodles leads category growth, driven by convenience, flavour variety, and the rise of spicy and ethnic options. Demand for healthier, organic, and clean ...

As fresh produce is widely available throughout Costa Rica, processed fruit and vegetables are usually only purchased when fresh items are unavailable. Growth in 2025 is supported by an increased variety of products in retailers, and the convenience and all-year-round availability of processed produ ...

Growth in 2025 is driven by busier lifestyles and the rising demand for convenient meal solutions. The health and wellness trend is increasingly shaping purchasing decisions and will continue to do so over the forecast period, encouraging more consumers to seek out varieties that have lower levels o ...

High prices were already a challenge for the industry due to climate change and geopolitical conflict. While unit price fluctuations in cooking ingredients and meals in 2025 are not as strong as those seen previously, Costa Ricans remain highly price conscious and look for promotions or cheaper prod ...

While demand for more sophisticated and specialised varieties is on the rise among higher-income consumers, most Costa Ricans consider edible oils to be interchangeable. Price therefore remains the most influential factor in purchasing decisions in 2025. The lion’s share of retail volume sales conti ...

In keeping with the trend evident across many other areas of the local packaged food market, Costa Ricans continue to show strong interest in sauces, dips and condiments with more distinctive and exotic flavour profiles in 2025. There is also rising interest in better-for-you options, particularly i ...

Most Costa Ricans continue to prefer traditional and classic jam and preserve flavours such as strawberry and guava; however, there is growing interest in premium and exotic varieties, including fig and black cherry. Chocolate spreads also continue to gain popularity, as do convenient and more affor ...