Recruiting the best staff to operate the points of sale and reducing the costs of the initial investments to set up a franchise are some of the challenges faced by franchisers, who expect better sales in 2020.
Access to financing, containment of operating costs, and maintaining profitability levels are other issues of concern to franchisors in Guatemala.
Encouraging production and raising the quality standards of the fruit are some of the challenges that Guatemala faces in order to take advantage of the multiple opportunities that exist in the international market.
It is estimated that worldwide the demand for avocado grows at a 10% annual rate and in its best season the fruit is quoted in Asian and European markets up to $1.75 per unit.
The world market for fresh and processed organic foods is one of the most dynamic today, with coffee, vegetables and tropical fruits being some of the products with the greatest business opportunities.
According to a study prepared by the Promotora de Comercio Exterior (Procomer), Switzerland is the market where the highest expenditure on organic food per person is reported, since it is estimated that consumption amounts to $325 per capita per year.
The marketing of organic shrimp, vegetable meat, Monk Fruit and carob are some of the innovative market opportunities that Guatemalan exporters have identified for this year.
For the "Best Markets, Products & Services 2020 Study", prepared by the Market Development and Trade Promotion Department of AGEXPORT, 27 high potential markets for Guatemalan products and services exports were selected, identifying 18 countries and 9 states of the United States, which together with the 351 tariff items generate more than 900 commercial opportunities for the Guatemalan exportable supply and international markets, informed the sector's union.
EXPOCOMER 2020 will take place in Panama City from March 25 to 28. Businessmen from 30 countries will participate in the event, exhibiting food products, beverages, textiles, clothing and accessories, technological and electronic equipment.
Jorge Garcia Icaza, president of the EXPOCOMER 2020 Organizing Committee, reported that the exhibition area of the fair to be held at the Atlapa Convention Center has sold out 90% to date and this year's edition is expected to attract the participation of some 30 countries from the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia, who will attend this event to take advantage of opportunities to present everything from food and textile lines to technology and home appliances, among others.
60% of the beauty and personal care products offered on the island are imported, which added to the intense tourist activity that takes place in the country, lays the foundation for many opportunities in this business.
Jamaica, which has hotel and beach spa infrastructure, attracts nearly 4.5 million visitors each year, who purchase different types of items, among which are personal care products, according to a report by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Agency.
The rise of the Internet as a means of organizing and booking travel is generating headaches for companies in the sector, which agree that the strategy should be to focus on marketing complete packages in very specific market niches.
The difficult financial situation that the agency Viajes Colon is going through in Costa Rica is just one example of the problems that have affected travel agencies for several years.
From February 5 to 7, the event called "Expo Machine 2020" will take place in the country's capital, where several types of machines, equipment, products and services from the construction, industrial, logistics, maritime, mining and agricultural sectors will be offered.
The event's organizers informed that for this year's edition, 70 exhibitors will participate, including national and international ones, who will exhibit an average of 200 brands.
On March 26 and 27, 2020, the "Producer & Roaster Forum" will be held in Copán Honduras, an event in which at least 100 international coffee buyers will participate and business deals for nearly $10 million are projected to be closed.
The organization of the event reported that the plan is to promote the six coffee regions of the country and that since mid-2019 is working with producers to make filters of the coffees that will be presented at the event.
Companies dedicated to digital animation in Costa Rica generate annual revenues close to $3 million, reporting average growth rates of 13% over the last few years and with optimistic forecasts for the future.
In this emerging sector, 62 companies operate with between 2 and 25 employees. Of these companies, most began operations seven years ago or less, and only a few have been in existence for 15 years or more.
Companies in the disposable plastic manufacturing sector have the capacity to replace all their production with environmentally friendly options, but the main obstacle is the limited capacity that customers must pay the surcharge for bioplastics.
In Costa Rica, some 31 companies indicated that they have the capacity to replace all their production with user-friendly options, the main limitations being the low capacity of customers to pay the surcharge for bioplastics and the restrictions on the functionality of the alternatives.
During 2018, sales of packaged foods in the United Kingdom exceeded $84 billion, and 36% corresponded to private label products, which have quickly entered this market.
The study "Trends and requirements of private label buyers in the food sector in the United Kingdom", prepared by Procomer Costa Rica, indicates that the United Kingdom stands out as the second country in Europe with greater penetration of private label.
The cultivation, processing and export of coconut and its derivatives, and the transformation of goat activity focused on the manufacture of personal care and health products, are some of the proposals for Costa Rican agriculture to generate greater added value.
A study conducted by FUNDES Strategy identifies new opportunities for Costa Rica's agricultural sector.
From November 7 to 11, Costa Rican entrepreneurs from the tourism sector will visit Denmark, Sweden and Holland, where seminars will be held and seek to create connections with local tourism agents.
The business tour is organized by Futuropa Group Association and according to the schedule of activities will visit Denmark on November 7, Sweden on the 8th and Holland on the 11th of the same month.
In markets such as North America and Western Europe, a consumer segment wants the grain to meet aspects such as ethical and sustainable sourcing, and its production process to be certified.
According to the study "Trends and Opportunities for value-added coffee exports" conducted by the Differentiated Coffees Committee of AGEXPORT, reveals how to change the strategies for marketing good quality coffee with higher value added (roasted), for the next coffee harvest of 2,019 - 2,020 and those to come.