Snacks in 2025: The big picture
Current value sales of snacks rose at a moderate rate in El Salvador in 2024. General and year-on-year inflation in El Salvador was 0.30% according to the Central Reserve Bank (BCR). The Consumer Price Index (IPC) for food and non-alcoholic beverages shows a decline in prices of 0.50%. In 2025, the industry, however, faces several price hikes including a higher global price of chocolate and glucose which affected snacks prices and manufacturing companies.
Key trends in 2025
In 2025, an increase in travelling led brands to incorporate more local twists into global classics, amplifying a positioning within cultural communities, and travelling into new, unexplored markets. Globally renowned brands in snacks are experimenting with new flavours and trying to reach a wider audience with new innovations that incorporate local flavours. For example, Zambos Tajín marked the merger of two well-known brands in the snacks industry, introducing the crunchy texture of Zambos plantain slices and the spiciness of Mexican Tajín.
Competitive Landscape
Productos Alimenticios Diana, SA de CV is the leading player in snacks. The company appeals to the nostalgia of consumers with a wide portfolio of products that consumers cannot find in other brands. These products are price accessible to the majority of the population and offer savoury snacks and sugar confectionery products for a wide variety of tastes.
Channel developments
Supermarkets remains the main distribution channel for snacks. Consumers find convenience in purchasing mass products in this channel, as they buy snacks during their regular grocery shopping trips. Supermarkets often offer price promotions of well-known brands and have the latest innovations available. Consumer loyalty has become limited among brands, as they often purchase the brand that is promoted at the time of their visit. Supermarkets such as Super Selectos offer a wide variety of snacks, often not found in other channels. The supermarkets continued to grow in penetration, with Super Selectos and Walmart, being among the fastest growing players in the channel. However, inflationary pressures continue boosting the popularity of the Despensa Familiar and Maxi Despensa discount chains, as well as Dollar City.
What next for snacks?
Value sales of snacks are set to see moderate growth over the forecast period. Consumers are expected to continue finding emotional and physical nourishment in snacks. Snacking moments are expected to continue to grow, and consumers will continue to appreciate a growing product variety on shelves. Consumers are expected to continue wanting to explore global flavours and local twists when snacking. The growing presence of international consumers in El Salvador is expected to make companies want to expand their global portfolios and introduce a greater variety of snacks.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Snacks industry in El Salvador 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 El Salvador, 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 El Salvador 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 El Salvador?
- Which are the leading brands in Snacks in El Salvador?
- How are products distributed in Snacks in El Salvador?
- 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 El Salvador?
- 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 El Salvador
Snacks in 2025: The big picture
Key trends in 2025
Competitive Landscape
Channel developments
What next for snacks?
DISCLAIMER
Key Data Findings
2025 Developments
Global cocoa crisis impacts confectionery sales
Cooperativa de Productos de Leche Dos Pinos is the lading player in confectionery
Supermarkets remains the leading channel for confectionery, though small local grocers is also significant
Prospects and Opportunities
Party mixes drive volume sales of confectionery over the forecast period
Social media continues to expose locals to international launches
Better-for-you confectionery remains niche but enjoys growing popularity
Category Data
Key Data Findings
2025 Developments
A variety of options are available in sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks for consumers to choose from
Mondelez El Salvador Ltda de CV retains the category lead in 2025
Sweet biscuits, snack bars, and fruit snacks are most often purchased in small local grocers
Prospects and Opportunities
Convenience continues to drive sales of sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks thanks to increasingly hectic lifestyles
Flavour innovation around the theme of indulgence grows
Simple ingredient lists become important for a niche but growing audience
Category Data
Key Data Findings
2025 Developments
High tourism numbers and warm climate support ice cream sales
Helados Sarita retains a strong lead in ice cream thanks to its longstanding presence in the country and widespread distribution
Supermarkets remains the main distribution channel for ice cream
Prospects and Opportunities
Innovation sparks higher sales over the forecast period
Plant-based ice cream grows in popularity and provides an alternative for vegans and consumers with an allergy to dairy
Growing interest in ingredient lists as health and wellness awareness continues to grow in El Salvador
Category Data
Key Data Findings
2025 Developments
Variety of options suit all consumer tastes and preferences
Productos Alimenticios Diana, SA de CV retains its leading role in savoury snacks in El Salvador
Small local grocers remains the most important channel for sales of savoury snacks
Prospects and Opportunities
The fulfilment of pleasure through low out-of-pocket expenditure continues to drive consumption of savoury snacks over the forecast period
Innovation endeavours to surprise consumers
Better-for-you options continue to gain momentum as health consciousness intensifies
Category Data
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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