Dairy products and alternatives in 2025: The big picture
Dairy products and alternatives in Costa Rica is set to show an improved performance in current value growth terms in 2025. This is mainly attributable to a moderate uptick in inflation, as retail volume growth is expected to be weaker than in 2024. The slowdown in volume sales is partly explained by encroaching maturity, but also reflects the fact that consumers are becoming somewhat more cautious in their spending decisions due to the rising cost of living and heightened economic uncertainty resulting from global trade tensions and a drop in inbound tourism flows.
Key trends in 2025
The health and wellness trend has continued to shape purchasing decisions and manufacturer strategies across dairy products and alternatives in 2025. Most notably, as Costa Ricans become better informed about how being overweight or obese can put them at greater risk of developing a host of serious diseases, they are increasingly inclined to favour products that are lower in fat, sugar and salt. Demand for varieties that are inherently rich in or fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, protein and functional ingredients such as probiotics is also rising. Similarly, consumers are showing growing interest in products that mainly comprise natural, highly nutritious ingredients and contain fewer or no artificial additives and preservatives, including clean label and organic options. Producers in all categories are adapting to these shifting preferences by reformulating established ranges and launching new variants with more attractive health credentials. Furthermore, companies continue to respond to the trend towards busier lifestyles by introducing smaller packaging formats that are more convenient for on-the-go consumption.
Competitive Landscape
Domestic manufacturer Cooperativa de Productos de Leche Dos Pinos has continued to dominate dairy products and alternatives in Costa Rica in value terms in 2025. While its share of total sales looks set to decline marginally from 2024, it retains an overwhelming lead in drinking milk products and yoghurt and sour milk products. The company is also the clear leader in cheese and the second ranked player in butter and spreads and other dairy. Its vast portfolio spans multiple categories, and its eponymous umbrella brand enjoys high levels of recognition and loyalty thanks to aggressive advertising, extensive distribution and a longstanding reputation for offering good quality products at affordable prices. The same is true of its Coronado and Pinito brands. Moreover, Costa Ricans often tend to favour Dos Pinos products as a means of supporting local dairy farmers and the wider economy of the country. Frequent new launches are another key element of its success, with the firm investing USD2 million in innovation annually. It has been particularly active in expanding its selection of health and wellness variants over recent years. In addition, it maintains a strong commitment to sustainability, most notably via its efforts to reduce packaging waste.
Channel developments
Small local grocers has remained the leading distribution channel for dairy products and alternatives in Costa Rica in value terms in 2025. These types of stores are present in large numbers throughout the country, and in rural areas are often the only easily accessible option for buying packaged food and other household essentials. Moreover, they are typically found in convenient locations that are highly conducive to top-up and impulse purchases. Their selections vary but mainly comprise domestic brands, particularly Dos Pinos. Additionally, many tend to carry more shelf stable products than chilled items due to a lack of refrigerated shelf space. The share of total sales held by small local grocers looks set to decline from 2024 due to consumer migration to modern grocery retailers with much wider assortments and more competitive pricing policies. These include hypermarkets and warehouse clubs, which are projected to record the biggest value share gains over the year. The advance of these and other modern channels also continues to be fuelled by the expansion of store networks and private label portfolios by major chains such as Pequeño Mundo, PriceSmart, Walmart and Auto Mercado.
What next for dairy products and alternatives?
The outlook for dairy products and alternatives in Costa Rica over the forecast period is bright, with total volume and current value sales projected to increase steadily. Along with a broadly favourable macroeconomic climate, population growth and the resilience of traditional consumption habits should ensure overall demand remains solid. High levels of innovation and heavy investment in advertising and distribution strategies will also help to maintain strong interest in all categories, with the growing availability of imports likely to be particularly influential in this respect. However, it is anticipated most consumers will still be inclined to favour domestic brands where possible, partly because they tend to be more affordable but also out of a sense of national pride.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Dairy Products and Alternatives 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 Dairy Products and Alternatives 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 Dairy Products and Alternatives 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 Dairy Products and Alternatives in Costa Rica?
- Which are the leading brands in Dairy Products and Alternatives in Costa Rica?
- How are products distributed in Dairy Products and Alternatives 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 Dairy Products and Alternatives?
- 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?
Dairy Products and Alternatives in Costa Rica
Dairy products and alternatives in 2025: The big picture
Key trends in 2025
Competitive Landscape
Channel developments
What next for dairy products and alternatives?
DISCLAIMER
Baby Food in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Demand remains solid despite modest slowdown
Nestlé Costa Rica SA continues to lead baby food
Distribution still heavily concentrated in the supermarkets channel
Convenience factor will continue to broaden appeal of baby food
Products with stronger health credentials set to gain ground
Investment in social media marketing expected to rise
Butter and Spreads in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Margarine still strongly favoured over butter in Costa Rica
Numar maintains commanding overall lead
Small local grocers remains the leading distribution channel
Healthy growth in overall volume and current value sales projected
Premiumisation likely to remain most visible in butter
Flavour diversification will continue to be a focal point for innovation
Cheese in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Imported cheese products become more widely available and popular
Cooperativa de Productos de Leche Dos Pinos continues to lead cheese
Supermarkets still the most important distribution channel
Cheese consumption expected to increase steadily over the forecast period
Products with health-oriented characteristics set to gain ground
Growing interest in wine bodes well for cheese
Drinking Milk Products in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Staple status of milk supports steady growth in volume and value sales
Dos Pinos continues to dominate drinking milk products
Small local grocers remains the leading distribution channel
Population growth and traditional consumption habits will continue to buoy sales
Milk expected to become a more popular post-exercise hydration drink
Climate change will continue to pose challenges for producers
Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Yoghurts targeted at children continue to perform well
Dos Pinos maintains its dominant position
Supermarkets remains the top distribution channel
Outlook for yoghurt and sour milk products remains positive
Growing focus on gut health will favour kefir products
Presence of imported brands expected to increase
Other Dairy in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Demand subdued by price hikes and rising health awareness
Nestlé retains sizeable overall lead
Supermarkets remains the most important distribution channel
Health concerns set to limit growth potential for condensed milk and cream
Penetration of health and wellness variants expected to remain low
Underdeveloped categories likely to benefit from entry of new imported products
Plant-Based Dairy in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Health and sustainability concerns continue to boost demand
Danone remains the dominant player in plant-based dairy
Supermarkets still the top distribution channel
Plant-based dairy set to continue expanding at a rapid pace
Clean label varieties expected to become more widely available
Increasing price competition should help to broaden consumer base
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Dairy Products and Alternatives
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- Dried Baby Food
- Prepared Baby Food
- Other Baby Food
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- Liquid Standard Milk Formula
- Powder Standard Milk Formula
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- Liquid Follow-on Milk Formula
- Powder Follow-on Milk Formula
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- Liquid Growing-Up Milk Formula
- Powder Growing-Up Milk Formula
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- Liquid Special Baby Milk Formula
- Powder Special Baby Milk Formula
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- Butter
- Cooking Fats
- Margarine and Spreads
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- Spreadable Cheese
- Processed Cheese excl Spreadable
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- Packaged Hard Cheese
- Unpackaged Hard Cheese
- Soft Cheese
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- Dairy Only Flavoured Milk Drinks
- Flavoured Milk Drinks with Fruit Juice
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- Fat-free Fresh Milk
- Semi Skimmed Fresh Milk
- Full Fat Fresh Milk
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- Fat-free Shelf Stable Milk
- Semi Skimmed Shelf Stable Milk
- Full Fat Shelf Stable Milk
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- Goat Milk
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- Powder Milk
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- Sour Milk Products
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- Drinking Yoghurt
- Flavoured Yoghurt
- Plain Yoghurt
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- Chilled Dairy Desserts
- Shelf Stable Dairy Desserts
- Chilled Snacks
- Coffee Whiteners
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- Flavoured Condensed Milk
- Plain Condensed Milk
- Evaporated Milk
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- Cream
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- Flavoured Fromage Frais and Quark
- Plain Fromage Frais and Quark
- Savoury Fromage Frais and Quark
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- Soy Drinks
- Other Plant-based Milk
- Plant-based Yoghurt
- Plant-based Cheese
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This report originates from Passport, our Dairy Products and Alternatives research and analysis database.
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