Grupo Bimbo has started 2018 extremely strong in Mexico but its CEO says there are concerns around potential volatility and change in the market in light of the significant, upcoming general election.
A new digital health information system is aiming to study the dietary habits and nutritional status of the Mexican population, with the ultimate goal of helping to guide Mexico’s public nutrition policies.
Advertising of food and beverages around schools in Mexico often features unhealthy products, with almost 70% not in compliance with recommendations from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Replacing some of the sugar in cookies with an aqueous stevia extract produced high consumer liking scores, while also boosting fiber content and showing good metabolic benefits, report Mexican scientists.
The Argentinean snack market is brimming with growth opportunity as consumers seek out high-quality, healthy products that are either good value or positioned as premium, according to Nielsen.
Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital, is a hotbed of innovation around food and beverage. FoodNavigator-LATAM caught up with food industry consultant, Agustín Camps, to find out about this year’s hottest trends.
Yogurt sections in grocery stores across LATAM are growing as consumer demand for the products increase. In response, brands are innovating with on-the-go and high protein versions increasingly in demand.
An inventor from Peru has developed a sweetening formulation that enables calorie reduction but also targets disease prevention through functional ingredients like prebiotic fibers and omega-3s.
Ecuador’s traffic light labeling system is having an impact on consumer food and beverage purchases, says a new study from scientists at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito.
When it comes to sugar, fat and salt reduction, Latin America can learn a lot from Europe and the US as most of the complex, technical aspects have already been refined, says a formulation expert.
Food firms need to think small to be big in today's consumer market, using personalized marketing and investing on a regional level, says Rabobank's global consumer foods strategist.
Protein is hot, and nowhere more so than in Latin America, where the percentage of high protein new product launches per year is almost double the global average.
Nim's Fruit Crisps wants to source directly from Colombian fruit farms to ensure better quality and consistency in its products and cater to growing production demands, its founder says.
Colombia and Ecuador currently export most of their palm oil but demand in Latin American is growing, and the oil crop has the advantage that consumers' minds are "a beautiful white page", according to trade group Fedepalma.
Continuing its expansion across Latin America, Barentz International has established a joint venture with Sao Paulo-based Tovani Benzaquen Ingredients. The JV marks Barentz’s first real entrance into the Brazilian market.
Researchers from Colombia have developed avocado solids from blended pulp, lemon juice and water, providing stable, nutrient-dense and year-round access to the fruit for food manufacturers.
The Argentinian National Commission of Foods (CONAL) has approved Beneo’s functional carbohydrate, Palatinose (isomaltulose), for use in all food and drink categories in the country.
Engaging and interactive packaging in Latin America is a must for food and beverage brands because consumers are highly connected digitally, says Tetra Pak's global marketing head.
Cost-effective formulations are a must in Latin America where the majority of end consumers still have a limited disposable income and are seeking out low-cost products, says Ingredion.
Starch from the seeds of loquat (Eriobothrya japonica) showed stability to heat than conventional starch sources, and could “represent a promising alternative to chemically modified starches”.
Health and wellness must be collectively addressed and space must be made for improved dialogue and policy development between industry and the public sector, says the president of the Alliance of Food and Beverage Associations in Latin America (ALAIAB).
Consumers in Latin America want healthy food and beverages made in a sustainable and transparent way and expectations are much higher than the global average, says consulting major Edelman.
Industry and governments must unite to address the astonishing problem of obesity in Latin America and a focus on early-life nutrition must be prioritized, says a food policy expert.
Male and female consumers in Brazil have different tastes and priorities with bakery products and manufacturers must consider this when innovating, says Mintel.
Mexico's National Institute for Forest, Agriculture and Livestock Research (INIFAP) has developed a blue dough from native maize varieties that it says contains up to twice the amount of antioxidants than traditional maize dough.
While Argentina’s salted-snack consumption is low at one kilo per person compared with the nine kilos in the US in 2017, the market has plenty of potential, says Pablo García, general manager for foods at PepsiCo Argentina.
Latin American manufacturers can thrive in the fast-expanding global halal market, especially by targeting the booming UAE region, say industry experts.
A team from the University of Santiago, Chile has developed a method to culture the native maqui berry in vitro and extract a phenol-rich compound for use in foods.
Possessing an enviable array of nutrients, an exotic Brazilian heritage and the ‘superfood’ moniker, the relatively unknown baru nut’s future looks promising.
The company, which supplies plant-based sweeteners, flavors, and botanicals, has set up a new sales, marketing and technical team to support its rapid expansion in Latin America and globally.
Latin American consumers across all demographics are interested in spending money on premium grocery products, particularly dairy, presenting strong opportunities for industry, according to Nielsen.
Food giant Nestlé announced the acquisition of a majority stake in LatAm’s Terrafertil, a company selling natural, organic, plant-based foods and healthy snacks.
An exudate gum from Argentine mesquite (Prosopis alba) may protect fish oils in alginate beads, and open up new fortification opportunities, says a new study from Argentina.
American brands eyeing the plentiful opportunities in Latin America must understand and adapt to the wealthy ideals widespread among consumers, a marketing expert says.
Brazil must shift its organic strengths towards secondary production, the animal sector and functional ingredients if it wants to secure a brighter future, says the executive director of Organics Brasil.
From selling ice-cream out of a tiny food cart on a Bogotá corner to clinching 15 franchises including retail store fronts in Colombia’s largest cities in just 18 months, Misty Cream has captured sweet-toothed Colombians’ taste buds with artisan ice-cream....
Netherlands-based Barentz International has announced a strategic partnership with Deltagen Group to expand both companies’ presence across Latin America and The Caribbean region.
After building a successful restaurant in Mexico based in part on the popularity and health benefits of coconut, entrepreneur Daniella Hunter is expanding her mission of promoting digestive well-being and sustainability to the US and Belize with a new...
With inflation rates shrinking (but still high), economic conditions in Argentina are improving. And with the government taking on export taxes and import restrictions, the future is looking rosier for the country.
With unemployment rates approaching 14% after two years of recession, Brazil’s economy is projected to grow by less than 0.5% in 2017, while the president has become embroiled in a corruption scandal some commentators fear could endanger an economic recovery....
