Price-sensitivity encourages ongoing interest in price promotions and cheaper products
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 products. With budgets stretched, they have less brand loyalty, and often seek savings and choose outlets where they know they can get items at a lower cost. While indulgence and product innovation attract consumers, they usually wait for products to be discounted to try them.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Cooking Ingredients and Meals industry in Costa Rica with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to a comprehensive range of core packaged food categories.
If you're in the Cooking Ingredients and Meals industry in Costa Rica, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Cooking Ingredients and Meals in Costa Rica report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Cooking Ingredients and Meals in Costa Rica?
- Which are the leading brands in Cooking Ingredients and Meals in Costa Rica?
- How are products distributed in Cooking Ingredients and Meals in Costa Rica?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and/or the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- What are the key health and wellness concerns driving, or challenging, sales in Cooking Ingredients and Meals?
- How significant are vegan and vegetarian dietary requirements in determining sales growth in Costa Rica?
- How has COVID-19 impacted consumer demand? To what extent have lockdown, home seclusion and stockpiling boosted sales? Will the longer term economic repercussions of the pandemic stimulate or suppress future growth?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
- How significant will values-based claims, such as sustainability and ethical labelling, be in supporting future growth and brand equity?
Cooking Ingredients and Meals in Costa Rica
Price-sensitivity encourages ongoing interest in price promotions and cheaper products
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Consumer Price Index (IPC) shows a decline in prices for several categories
Impact of declining tourism and contraband
Influence of social media and convenience
Health and wellness driving demand for better-for-you products
Increased interest in healthy and functional foods
Global flavours to gain traction
Rising influence of social media
Cía Numar SA leads with its widely recognised and trusted brands
Nestlé benefits from the continued popularity of its flagship Maggi brand
Supermarkets offer a wide product range, lower prices and convenience
Retail e-commerce penetration continues to grow
Low prices attract
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
Edible Oils in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Most consumes focus on price, while affluent consumers seek out premium niches
Limited brand loyalty
Dynamic olive oil
High saturated fat content continues to limit appeal of palm oil
Private label lines to gain ground
Health and wellness trend to drive growth of olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil
Social media will continue to influence purchasing trends
Cía Numar lead with its widely recognised and trusted brands
Supermarkets offer the widest selection of edible oils
Retail e-commerce continues to expand
Meals and Soups in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Busier lifestyles and health and wellness trends shape growth
Rising demand as busier lifestyles leave less time for cooking
Growth of shelf-stable ready meals with Pro Salud’s entry into the category
Increased variety of offerings is expected
Health and wellness trend will continue to shape purchasing decisions
Meal kits likely to gain popularity among higher-income consumers
Nestlé Costa Rica SA leads and experiences strong organic growth in 2025
Warehouse clubs benefit from consumers economising
Sauces, Dips and Condiments in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Growing interest in exotic and distinctive flavours
Rising demand for global flavours
Convenient doy packs increasingly popular
Rising demand for clean ingredients lists
Increasing interest in international cuisines and new flavours
Smaller doy packs likely to gain traction
Unilever de Centroamérica SA leads with its popular Lizano, Naturas, and Hellmann’s brands
Banquete brand enjoys wide distribution and frequent price promotions
Warehouse clubs offer volume savings
Sweet Spreads in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Affordable chocolate spreads attract a growing range of consumers
Rising popularity of convenient doy packs
Appeal of chocolate spreads spans both younger and older audiences
Innovative flavour combinations and unique textures to meet evolving consumer preferences
Rising demand for better-for-you options
Convenient and affordable packaging may boost sales
Productos Ujarrás leads, offering local ingredients, product variety, and affordability
New Tricopilia Sport boosts the visibility and overall popularity of the Tricopilia brand
Supermarkets offer variety, lower prices and convenience
Retail e-commerce continues to expand in 2025
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Cooking Ingredients and Meals
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- Olive Oil
- Corn Oil
- Palm Oil
- Rapeseed Oil
- Soy Oil
- Sunflower Oil
- Other Edible Oil
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- Dried Ready Meals
- Shelf Stable Ready Meals
- Chilled Ready Meals
- Frozen Ready Meals
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- Dry Soup
- Shelf Stable Soup
- Chilled Soup
- Frozen Soup
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- Chilled Pizza
- Frozen Pizza
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- Meal Kits
- Quick Recipe Kits
- Chilled Lunch Kits
- Prepared Salads
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- Liquid Stocks and Fonds
- Stock Cubes and Powders
- Gravy Cubes, Powders and Pots
- Monosodium Glutamate
- Herbs and Spices
- Tomato Pastes and Purées
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- Liquid Recipe Sauces (excl pasta sauces)
- Dry Recipe Sauces
- Pasta Sauces
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- Barbecue Sauces
- Fish Sauces
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Oyster Sauces
- Salad Dressings
- Soy Sauces
- Chili Sauces
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- Dips
- Yeast-based Spreads
- Pickled Products
- Other Sauces and Condiments
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- Honey
- Chocolate Spreads
- Jams and Preserves
- Nut and Seed Based Spreads
Why buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
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This report originates from Passport, our Cooking Ingredients and Meals research and analysis database.
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