Dairy Products and Alternatives in Latin America

February 2025

While sales of dairy products and alternatives have continued to grow in real value terms in Latin America in recent years, they have been declining in volume terms, given the difficult economic backdrop, including high inflation, in a number of countries in the region. Along with labelling regulations, introduced to highlight products high in fat, sugar or salt, changing consumer trends will likely increasingly favour healthier variants of staples like milk and cheese.

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Key findings

Positive value growth, but volumes are declining

With many countries in the region facing high inflation, pushing up costs for industry suppliers and players, and therefore also end prices for consumers, volume sales have been struggling in recent years, even if dairy products and alternatives were still managing to record positive growth in real value terms.

Private label could benefit from the removal of Precios Justos

The scrapping in late 2023 of the Precios Justos programme by the new president in Argentina saw small local grocers begin to claw back some share from their modern grocery retailer counterparts in 2024; with private label expected to fill some of the void of cheaper products due to the removal of this scheme, which guaranteed shoppers basic items at lower prices.

Plant-based cheese seeing strong growth in Argentina

Argentina was seeing very strong growth in plant-based cheese in the last two years, boosted by NotCo’s Not Cheese alternative to mozzarella and Not Cream Cheese alternative to spreadable dairy cheese new lines as well as Mastellone’s new spreadable classic and cheddar options under its La Serenísima brand, which are made with coconut oil and almond paste.

Reformulation of products to avoid on-pack labelling likely to continue

The consensus is that more indulgent products will still continue to be bought, but that the on-pack warning labels about high salt, sugar or fat content in packaged food products in a number of countries across the region will see industry players continue to utilise new ingredients or reformulate their products to avoid the need to carry these labels on more everyday items.

Scope
Key findings
Latin America the most dynamic region over 2019-2024
Positive value and volume growth expected to be seen in the coming years
Dairy dominates sales in the overall category in Latin America
Mexico adds USD2.6 billion in new cheese sales over 2019-2024
Plant-based dairy category developing beyond milk in recent years in Argentina
Dairy dominates the new sales added over 2019-2024
Return to positive volume growth in Brazil in 2024
Products with functionality claims gaining attention in Mexico
Small local grocers the main distribution channel in Latin America
Health and beauty specialists a strong channel for baby food sales
Competitive landscapes remain concentrated in most countries in Latin America
Mastellone making gains in Argentina with new brands and products
Nestlé represented across the Latin America region
Lala, Nido and Alpuro unchanged leaders throughout 2019-2024
Steady value growth of around 3% a year expected over the forecast period
Health and indulgence will both remain important to consumers
Argentina: Market Context
Argentina: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Bolivia: Market Context
Bolivia: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Brazil: Market Context
Brazil: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Chile: Market Context
Chile: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Colombia: Market Context
Colombia: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Costa Rica: Market Context
Costa Rica: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Dominican Republic: Market Context
Dominican Republic: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Ecuador: Market Context
Ecuador: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Guatemala: Market Context
Guatemala: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Mexico: Market Context
Mexico: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Peru: Market Context
Peru: Competitive and Retail Landscape
Uruguay: Market Context
Uruguay: Competitive and Retail Landscape
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