From January to June 2019 Central American exports of vegetables totaled $105 million, 5% more than what was reported in the same period in 2018, a rise explained by the behavior of sales to companies in the United States.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
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.
From January to June 2019, companies in the region imported $93 million in food for dogs and cats, and purchases from Mexican companies increased 10% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
The U.S. restaurant chain Olive Garden plans to open its first restaurant in the country in July 2020, and for 2021 and 2022 it plans to open two more points of attention.
The first location to be opened by the investment group AR Holdings, a member of Grupo Promerica, will be 450 square meters and will be in Escazu, and the estimated investment for this restaurant is $1.3 million.
In the tenth month of the year, the FAO food price index rose 6% from October 2018, explained by rising prices of sugar, meat, dairy products and vegetable oils.
From FAO's monthly report:
» The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 172.7 points in October 2019, up 1.7 percent (3 points) from September and 6.0 percent higher than in the corresponding period last year.
From January to March 2019, Central American exports of vegetables totaled $56 million, 5% less than what was reported in the same period in 2018, a decrease explained by the behavior of sales to companies in the United States.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
From January to March 2019, companies from countries in the region imported $47 million in food for dogs and cats, 12% more than was reported in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In the ninth month of the year, the FAO food price index increased by 3% compared to September 2018, explained by the rise in the prices of sugar, meat, dairy products and vegetable oils.
From FAO's monthly report:
» The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged nearly 170 points in September 2019, unchanged from August but 3.3 percent higher than in the corresponding period last year.
Because there are customers who demand gluten-free food, vegan food or dishes that adapt to the ketogenic diet, companies in Costa Rica can exploit new market niches.
The number of consumers who demand specialized food is rising in the Costa Rican market, so some restaurants have changed their menus to meet the demands of customers.
In Costa Rica, the Pizza Hut chain expects to invest about $1.6 million in the next few months in the opening of six new sales points outside the Greater Metropolitan Area.
Representatives of the company informed that the new premises will be located in Nicoya, Orotina, Quepos, San Rafael de Alajuela, Turrialba and San Ramón. In the case of the sales point in Nicoya, it was inaugurated last September 17.
In the first quarter of 2019, the countries of the region imported $108 million in animal feed preparations, 8% less than what was reported for the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
During the rest of the year, the Papa John's pizza restaurant chain plans to open seven new points in the Greater Metropolitan Area.
The company said in a statement that the first of the seven locations that are planned to open, is located in Barva de Heredia and began operating last August 24.
The Asian giant represents a market of 1.345 million consumers and is the world's second largest importer of the agrifood sector, with $126 billion per year.
The study "Food Market in China", compiled by Procomer Costa Rica, indicates that in the Asian country 50% of agrifood imports are from the agricultural sector, in products such as soybeans (which corresponds to the main of the entire agrifood sector), barley and rice.
In some cantons of Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Alajuela, Cartago and San José, the government declared a state of emergency because of the hydric deficit in the country, a consequence of the abnormal behavior of rainfall.
Rainfall behavior is an effect of the Southern Oscillation, El Niño (ENSO). The situation has affected human consumption of liquid, productive activities of agricultural vocation and the environment, informed the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.