Snacks in 2025: The big picture
Costa Rica recorded an inflation rate of 0.84% in 2024, according to the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR), with the Consumer Price Index (IPC) showing price declines in key snack categories like chips, savoury snacks, ice cream, and sugar confectionery, dampening value growth. In 2025, the industry is facing several cost pressures, including global price increases for chocolate and glucose, affecting snack prices and manufacturers.
Key trends in 2025
Social media is exposing consumers to global product launches and driving demand for these items locally. As a result, shoppers are visiting retailers actively seeking unfamiliar products and even saving up to try more premium international treats. Mexican sugar confectionery, for instance, continues to gain popularity as consumers explore new flavours, including spicier options. Meanwhile, in chocolate confectionery, higher-income consumers influenced by international media are eager to try trending products like Dubai chocolate.
Competitive Landscape
In 2025, Grupo Nutresa maintained its leadership in the Costa Rican snacks market, producing a wide range of products, including sweet biscuits, savoury snacks, chocolate confectionery, and ice cream. Its Pozuelo brand, which is especially renowned for sweet biscuits, holds a strong nostalgic value among locals who view it as a Costa Rican brand and often enjoy its products to reconnect with childhood memories. Grupo Nutresa’s acquisitions, such as Pops ice cream, Nestlé Costa Rica, and Grupo Nacional de Chocolates, have further contributed to its strength.
Channel developments
Small local grocers continue to lead in snacks in Costa Rica in 2025. Consumers often purchase snacks during the day, when out and about, and small local grocers are widely distributed across the country, and offer a broad selection of snacks. At the same time, e-commerce’s penetration continues to grow, largely driven by middle- and higher- income consumers, as well as younger generations who value the convenience of online shopping. According to a Study of Card Use by the Office of the Financial Consumer (OCF) in 2022, four out of 10 consumers in Costa Rica has a credit card, and the number continues to grow. Consumers who were initially hesitant about making online purchases are now more trusting, especially with reputable retailers they know well. Automercado is the most well-known supermarket offering e-commerce, as it was one of the first to offer this service and its customers are mostly in the higher-income bracket. PriceSmart has also enhanced its digital presence with an app, while Walmart and its associated stores now offer both delivery and pick-up services. Hyperlocal delivery systems such as Uber Eats also continue to grow, offering access to convenience stores and supermarkets. Promotions available on hyperlocal delivery platforms encourage sales of impulse snacks that are promptly delivered to consumers’ homes.
What next for snacks?
Over the forecast period, Costa Ricans are expected to continue seeking both emotional and physical nourishment through snacking. As snacking occasions increase, shoppers will appreciate the expanding variety of products available in retailers, including global flavours with local twists.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Snacks 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 Snacks 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 Snacks 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 Snacks in Costa Rica?
- Which are the leading brands in Snacks in Costa Rica?
- How are products distributed in Snacks 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 Snacks?
- 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?
Snacks in Costa Rica
Snacks in 2025: The big picture
Key trends in 2025
Competitive Landscape
Channel developments
What next for snacks?
DISCLAIMER
Chocolate Confectionery in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Global cocoa crisis pushes prices up
Grupo Café Britt benefits from tourism growth
Supermarkets remain the most important distribution channel
Further growth of popular chocolate confectionery
Product innovations to provide indulgent options for consumers
Health and wellness trend drives demand for dark chocolate
Gum in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Negative perception of sugar-rich products impacts bubble gum
Mondelez International leads thanks to innovative Trident
Small local grocers lead, offering a wide product selection and convenience
Expansion of flavour options to capture consumer attention
More specialised gum could push the category forward
Clean ingredient lists could attract a niche group
Sugar Confectionery in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Moderate volume growth in 2025
Mondelez´ high-quality Halls has a loyal consumer base
Leading small local grocers now offer wellness products
Low-priced variety volume bags will continue to drive growth
Rising demand for flavour variety
Innovation to offer healthier alternatives to traditional options
Ice Cream in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Retailers face strong competition from popular ice cream parlours
Cooperative de Productos de Leche Dos Pinos continues to lead
E-commerce growth, especially for bulk ice cream
Imported products could boost growth
Importance of strategic product placement in driving ice cream sales in retail stores
Rising demand for cleaner, more natural ingredients
Savoury Snacks in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Consumers enjoy a wide variety of savoury snack options
Grupo Nutresa leads due to its wide range of popular and affordable products
Small local grocers continue to lead
Added protein and better-for-you ingredients to drive growth
Campaigns that combine technology are expected during the forecast period
Rising demand for savoury snacks made with healthier oils
Sweet Biscuits, Snack Bars and Fruit Snacks in Costa Rica
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Sweet biscuits, snack bars, and fruit snacks satisfy sweet cravings
Grupo Nutresa continues to lead, offering a wide portfolio of affordable options
E-commerce continues to grow as consumers appreciate its convenience
Better-for-you children’s alternatives could drive growth
Consumers demand new varieties and flavours
Rising demand for options offering nutritional benefits
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Snacks
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- Chocolate Pouches and Bags
- Boxed Assortments
- Chocolate with Toys
- Countlines
- Seasonal Chocolate
- Tablets
- Other Chocolate Confectionery
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- Bubble Gum
- Chewing Gum
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- Boiled Sweets
- Chewy Candies
- Gummies and Jellies
- Liquorice
- Lollipops
- Medicated Confectionery
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- Power Mints
- Standard Mints
- Toffees, Caramels and Nougat
- Other Sugar Confectionery
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- Frozen Yoghurt
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- Single Portion Dairy Ice Cream
- Single Portion Water Ice Cream
- Plant-based Ice Cream
- Unpackaged Ice Cream
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- Bulk Dairy Ice Cream
- Ice Cream Desserts
- Multi-Pack Dairy Ice Cream
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- Bulk Water Ice Cream
- Multi-Pack Water Ice Cream
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- Nuts, Seeds and Trail Mixes
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- Potato Chips
- Tortilla Chips
- Puffed Snacks
- Rice Snacks
- Vegetable, Pulse and Bread Chips
- Savoury Biscuits
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Meat Snacks
- Seafood Snacks
- Other Savoury Snacks
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- Dried Fruit
- Processed Fruit Snacks
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- Cereal Bars
- Protein/Energy Bars
- Fruit and Nut Bars
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- Chocolate Coated Biscuits
- Cookies
- Filled Biscuits
- Plain Biscuits
- Wafers
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This report originates from Passport, our Snacks research and analysis database.
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