Colombia

Ice cream in Colombia is a very popular snacks category; Colombian consumers are amongst the biggest consumers of ice cream in Latin America. Unlike in other countries, where consumption can fluctuate according to the season, Colombia’s tropical…

Beer in Colombia achieved positive retail volume growth in 2023, despite the inflationary pressures impacting consumers’ budgets. The affordability of beer compared to other alcoholic drinks supported category sales, although there was a notable…

In 2023, sales of cigarettes in Colombia returned to a declining trend following a slight increase in the year prior. The downward trend is not only caused by lower smoking prevalence, but the shift towards alternatives like e-vapour products.…

Within pet products in Colombia in 2024, cat litter is highly diverse segment with numerous brands offering various types of litter to cater to the preferences and needs of cat owners. The positive performance of cat litter is mainly driven by…

Despite the high cost of living, fragrances continued to perform well, with the category proving its resilience in Colombia in 2023. Premium fragrances outperformed the mass segment due to price rises, which have clearly had an impact on value…

Double-digit growth was seen in discounters in Colombia in 2023, reflecting a change in the consumption habits of local consumers who are looking for more affordable options in a time of economic uncertainty and budget constraints. Discounters have…

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a sharp increase in demand for surface care products, particularly in multipurpose cleaners and home disinfectants. In the following years, retail volumes have receded although total surface care sales remain well…

Despite the strong price increases witnessed in 2023, shoe polishes performed exceptionally well in retail volume terms, with a full recovery above pre-pandemic levels. This trend has been driven by the full return to face-to-face classes in schools…

The high cost of living in Colombia has forced many consumers to focus on basic home care products and goods when shopping, which has had a slight impact on home insecticides. The category has also been affected by the shortage of rain in areas like…

In 2023, home care products registered notable price hikes, with most rising above inflation which continued to increase year on year. Consumers have felt a decrease in purchasing power since 2022, but this trend became more acute in 2023 with…

As less essential home care products, air care suffered a contraction in volume sales in 2023, with consumers being heavily impacted by rising price points and inflation, causing them to rethink their budgets. The trend towards hybrid working, which…

Chocolate confectionery in Colombia is projected to see further strong, if slower, growth in retail current value sales over 2024. Retail current value sales are being spiked by a still relatively high inflation rate, as retail volume sales decline.…

Tobacco in Colombia witnessed stagnant volume growth in 2023 amid inflationary pressures and falling demand for cigarettes. Smoking prevalence continued to decline with consumers increasing awareness about the harmful effects of combustion tobacco…

Menstrual care in Colombia recorded double-digit retail value growth in 2023, driven by rising inflation and ongoing price hikes. Although Nosotras remained the leading brand on the landscape, the player lost market share in 2023 as consumers sought…

In 2024, pet care in Colombia is still feeling the impact of previous years’ high inflation, with soaring rates seen in 2022 and 2023. This widespread increase in prices has had a notable impact on the industry, leading pet owners seek to manage…

Despite unfavourable economic conditions, toothpaste and toothbrushes, the main categories in oral care, experienced growth in both volume and value terms in Colombia in 2023. However, shrinking disposable incomes made consumers more price sensitive,…

In 2023, value growth of convenience retailers in Colombia was supported by increasingly busy lifestyles, forcing consumers to shop little and often and increasingly buy breakfast and lunch to-go. Convenience retailers have shown agility and…

In 2023, retail tissue in Colombia recorded positive, double-digit retail value growth, bolstered by rising inflation and ongoing price hikes. However, retail volume growth for toilet paper remained low, despite players reducing the meters and weight…

In 2023, hand dishwashing saw limited growth in volume terms, although this was an improvement on the declines seen in the year prior. Hand dishwashing decreased in 2022 as Colombians started spending more time out of the home after the COVID-19…

There was a clear shift in consumer preferences in Columbia in 2022, of which the main one was emphasising a delicate balance between affordability and quantity. This trend, driven by environmental consciousness and economic concerns amid rising…

Flexible plastic is widely utilised as the primary packaging material in confectionery packaging in Colombia due to its versatility, which allows for various shapes and sizes, accommodating a diverse range of confectionery products. Flexible plastic…

Sun care recorded strong double-digit growth in Colombia in 2023, enabling sales to exceed pre-pandemic levels, after the steep decline seen in 2020. In 2023, sun care benefited from increased consumer awareness about the potential damage caused by…

In 2024, snacks in Colombia continues to be impacted by economic challenges underpinned by strong inflationary pressures. While expected to be significantly lower than the double-digit peaks recorded in 2022 and 2023, the inflation rate in Colombia…

Savoury snacks in Colombia is significantly affected by the inflationary climate in the market, which is causing consumers to restrict their discretionary spending. On the supply side, manufacturers are facing increased input costs resulting from…

Gum in Colombia continued to be affected by its status as a mature and consolidated snacks category with little room for dynamic activity at the end of the review period. According to trade sources, consumers’ oral care concerns and a desire to…

In 2023, demand for cider/perry declined in Colombia where consumption of cider is very low and by far the smallest of the five main alcoholic drinks categories. Most local consumers are not aware of this product, because of its limited availability…

Hair care saw double-digit current value growth in Colombia in 2023. Products that focused on the health and nourishment of the hair continued to be favoured, with new options being launched during the year. Similar to other beauty and personal care…

In 2023, personal wipes in Colombia recorded high price increases, which led to a retail volume decline, despite double-digit retail value growth. Wipes had been amongst the strongest performing tissue and hygiene categories over the review period,…

In 2023, colour cosmetics recorded double-digit current value growth for the second year in a row in Colombia. Retail current value sales increased across all product categories, demonstrating how important make-up is to Colombian women and their…

In 2023, direct selling in Colombia has benefited from its ease and speed of purchase, product variety and payment options. Growth is also attributable to expansion into more remote areas of the country. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, direct…

Toilet care products are seeing a mix of trends according to the different categories. Faced with the sharp rise in costs, companies have been forced to increase retail prices in 2023 and this has curbed demand. Declining volume sales has been seen…

In spite of continuing rising prices in 2023, consumer foodservice registered an increase in constant value sales and there was also further opening of new outlets. However, profit margins were under strain, as costs also continued to rise and…

Colombia, historically linked with drug trafficking, has undergone a noteworthy transformation by actively cultivating a well-regulated cannabis industry. The legalisation of medical cannabis, the establishment of a legal framework for licensed…

Sugar confectionery in Colombia is affected by unit prices rises amid increasing production costs and still relatively high inflation in the market. While limiting consumption increases, rising unit prices exert upward movement in retail current…

Following the strong growth recorded in 2022, demand for wine in Colombia slowed down in 2023. The decline in volume and value sales can be attributed to the country's economic situation, where high inflation rates and low economic growth have…

Flexible plastic is the most widely used packaging choice for dairy products in Colombia in unit volume terms due to its cost-effectiveness, lightweight nature, convenient features, branding potential, protective barrier properties and innovative…

Cat food in Colombia is seeing slowed growth in 2024, though still outpaced dog food in terms of both volume and current value sales due to the smaller size of the market and the increasing popularity of cat ownership. Still, category growth in 2024…

Skin care delivered double-digit growth in Colombia in 2023, showing a similar rate of growth to that seen in the previous year thanks to the great importance that Colombian consumers place on skin care routines. As in every other area of beauty and…

Value sales of deodorants showed single-digit growth in current value terms in Colombia in 2023 driven by the high temperatures recorded in the country and unit price increases, which were mainly the result of the growth in retail prices linked to…

In 2023, vending in Colombia experienced slowed growth as a result of price increases and the cost-of-living crisis. Prioritising essential products, many Colombians spent less on on-the-go snacks and drinks, slowing down the category’s performance…

Supermarkets in Colombia saw further growth in 2023 as consumers are visiting stores more frequently and spending less per visit rather than doing large bimonthly shops in hypermarkets. Growth has been further supported by frequent discounts and…

The Colombian economy began to recover in the second half of 2021, and growth reached 7.5% by the end of 2022, fuelled by fiscal stimulus, increased oil prices and a boost in food and beverages exports, which registered a 24% increase. However,…

Retail prices of laundry care products continued to experience significant increases in 2023, with double-digit growth rates well above the rate of inflation. The impact of rising prices varied according to category. While volume sales of powdered…

Bleach is a very mature category in Colombia, reaching more than 95% of households. Disinfection has become less relevant in 2023, as the threat of COVID-19 subsided. However, retail volume sales of bleach are still above pre-pandemic levels as the…

Spirits faced a challenging year in 2023 due to the complex macroeconomic environment, high inflation rates and low economic growth in Colombia. Consumers traded down between categories and brands due to lower purchasing power. Although the total…

Although the consumption of RTDs is still small in Colombia, this is the fastest growing category within alcoholic drinks in 2023. RTDs continue to draw the attention of younger adults, not only due to the lower alcohol content and sweeter flavours,…

2023 was a more challenging year for alcoholic drinks in Colombia, both in the retail channel and the on-trade including bars, restaurants and night clubs. After the strong growth recorded following the end of the pandemic, high inflation impacted…

In 2024 current value sales for dog food in Colombia remain strong but are dramatically slower than in 2023, while volume sales are rising slightly. However, volume sales have been relatively low for much of the review period, largely attributed to…

Depilatories saw modest current value growth in Colombia in 2023. Economic pressures compelled some consumers to cut back on non-essential spending during the year, including visits to beauty salons for hair removal services, such as waxing and laser…

Discounters in Colombia recorded further growth in 2023, with the main players focusing on a providing a positive customer experience. Currently 32 hypermarkets have been converted into Éxito Wow, which represents 35.4% of the brand’s sales. This…