With the rejection of the appeal presented by one of the participating companies, the General Comptroller of the Republic gave the green light to the construction of an agricultural plant in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica.
In March, the contract for the construction of this industrial complex had been awarded to the company Vidalco Constructora, but the process was temporarily interrupted with the filing of an appeal by one of the participating companies.
Sales via websites, social networks and instant messaging systems, as well as offering home delivery and including frozen food on menus, are some of the innovations that restaurants have had to apply in the new commercial reality.
Until the abrupt change in consumption habits brought about by the covid-19 outbreak in Costa Rica, restaurants did not imagine that the situation would force them to abandon their classic table service.
How many people are interested in this type of food, where they are located, how old are they and what is their monthly spending level, are some of the questions that can be answered with the use of specialized geomarketing tools.
At CentralAmericaData we have developed a geomarketing tool based on interactive maps, through which it is possible to identify where people are and what characteristics they have as consumers. The map incorporates, for any country in Central America, variables such as population, income, average monthly expenditure and consumer interests. With this information, it is possible to identify potential clients and define promotional strategies accordingly, or also explore home delivery times from any point of sale.
Camanica Zona Franca S.A., Agromania Rio Morote S.A. and Premezclas Latinoamericanas S.A., are part of the companies that in 2019 participated in the business of importing shrimp feed in the region.
The market study "Food for Shrimp in Central America", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, details the main figures of the shrimp food import business and exports of the seafood in question.
Foods whose properties and benefits are well defined, and are produced by companies with sustainable practices, have the greatest potential to gain ground in a market that has been rapidly transformed.
Although in recent weeks’ e-commerce and analysis of how consumers buy in times of quarantine has occupied most companies, there are other trends that could define the food market, once the most critical phases of the covid-19 outbreak are over.
Closing children's play areas, placing glass in predetermined places and using disposable tableware and cutlery are some of the new health and safety protocols that restaurants must apply when faced with a change in business.
When restaurants begin to reactivate service in table areas, once the most critical phases of the covid-19 outbreak are over, companies must apply rigorous hygiene and social distancing protocols.
When the country's authorities begin to relax the restrictions that have been taken to prevent the spread of covid-19, it is predicted that rotisserie chicken sales could fall by 2%.
Using a demand/income sensitivity model developed by the Commercial Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData, variations in household demand for different goods and services can be projected as the most critical phases of the spread of covid-19 are overcome and the measures restricting mobility in the countries of the region are lifted.
Removing commonly used beverage dispensers, signaling establishments to ensure social distancing, and installing doors with a foot opening are some of the adaptations that restaurants will have to make to operate in the new commercial environment.
The restaurant sector has been one of the hardest hit by the covid-19 outbreak, as in most countries the authorities have prohibited these establishments from serving their customers in the table area and only allow them to sell take-out.
So far this year, interest in fast food in Central American markets has clearly increased, with Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica recording the largest increases in interactions associated with the topic.
Through a system that monitors real-time changes in the interests and preferences of consumers in Central American countries, developed by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long-term demand trends for different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
The supply of food for consumption by children and families in the Integrated Early Childhood Care Centers is being put out to tender.
Dominican Republic Government purchase INAIPI-MAE-PEEN-2020-0001:
"Some items to be tendered:
-300,000 small biscuits packed in corn or wheat flour covers
-270,000 stable juices out of the fridge of 200 ml each
-210,000 flavored liquid milk drinks, 200 ml each
Interest in food and beverage products has clearly increased in recent weeks in the region's markets, with the trend being more evident in products such as baked goods, soups, liquors, fruits and vegetables, candies and fast food.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long-term demand trends for the different sectors and markets operating in the region.
Businessmen in El Salvador believe that in most cases home sales are only enough for companies to cover fixed costs and workers' salaries in this health crisis, but they do not visualize it as a long-term solution.
The outbreak of covid-19 in the country forced local authorities to decree home quarantines and to order restaurants to close temporarily, in order to contain the advance of the virus.
Given the health crisis, the food and beverage sector would be partly affected by the drop in the production of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages and the decline in sales of fish and seafood preparations.
The "Information System for the Impact Analysis of Covid-19 on Business", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, measures the degree of impact that the crisis will have on companies, depending on the country, sector or economic activity, during the coming months.
Given the crisis in the region, businessmen in Guatemala report that smuggling of Mexican products has increased, while in Panama, beer producers attribute the rise in illegal trade in alcoholic beverages to the dry law.
With the spread of Covid-19, governments in Central America have decreed mandatory quarantines and have also restricted the movement of consumers at certain hours.