AGP Executive Report

Restaurant Strain: Venezuelan-founded Arempas has closed three of its six Utah restaurants. Its owners say immigration enforcement has frightened away Latino customers and cost them workers. Food Safety: Guyana’s agriculture ministry denies claims that contaminated Brazilian chicken reached local stores, saying imports undergo veterinary and health inspections. Changing Diets: Chicken has overtaken beef as Argentina’s most-consumed meat, while rising food prices are leaving Brazilians feeling poorer despite broader economic gains. Brand Moves: Colombian hair-care label Milagros named Georgina Rodríguez the face of its professional line, and J Balvin teamed up with Bon Bon Bum on a global special edition. Restaurant Expansion: Shake Shack is entering Brazil with local partner Bold Hospitality as the country’s restaurant sector consolidates.

Brand Moves: Colombian hair-care label Milagros named Georgina Rodríguez the face of its professional line, while Shake Shack is preparing to enter Brazil through a partnership with Bold Hospitality. Food & Prices: Argentina’s chicken consumption has overtaken beef, as September inflation in Mexico rose to 3.45% year over year from 3.26% in August. Local Food Supply: In Guyana, Warao women are earning income from peppers and other crops grown in rainwater-fed shade houses. A separate FAO programme is wrapping up work to improve the sustainability, food safety and management of the country’s Atlantic seabob shrimp industry. Food Security: El Niño is putting Latin America’s food supply under pressure, with reports pointing to risks for farmers, fishers and regional harvests.

Autos: Chinese brands now account for 17% of Brazil’s car market, as lower-cost imports intensify competition. Packaging: Mexico’s new Circular Economy Law is set to reshape plastics packaging and recycling, with implications for consumer-goods makers. Food: Rising food costs are a record concern for Brazilian workers, while Peru’s blueberry exporters are shifting from volume toward quality and differentiation. Beauty: Korean skincare brand Medicube is entering Mexico’s luxury department-store market. Retail: Levi’s has surpassed €100 million in Spain, with Colombia among the drivers of growth.

Beauty: Tangle Teezer is pushing deeper into Brazil with premium-brand collaborations; local sales are expected to reach about R$100 million this year, growing roughly 30% annually. Autos: Chinese brands now hold 17% of Brazil’s car market, and a price war is intensifying as low-cost imports gain ground. Food: Rising food prices remain a record concern for Brazilian households. Peru’s blueberry exporters, meanwhile, are shifting from volume to quality and differentiation. Retail: Argentina’s sales fell a cumulative 2.1%, pointing to continued pressure on shoppers. Packaging: Mexico’s Circular Economy Law is reshaping plastics and recycling rules for consumer brands. Beauty Expansion: Korean skincare brand Medicube has entered Mexico’s luxury department-store market.

Food Delivery: Meituan’s Keeta added 21 Brazilian cities, bringing its coverage to 32 and downloads to 10 million as it pushes beyond São Paulo. Retail & Regulation: Mexico’s new circular-economy law is set to reshape plastics packaging and recycling, while beauty brand Medicube is entering the country’s luxury department-store market. Consumer Goods: Chinese automakers are gaining ground in Argentina with lower-cost, high-tech electric vehicles. In Puerto Rico, Harina y Chocolate Cortés launched two permanent cookie flavors inspired by local favorites. Food Prices: The Dominican Republic removed rice import tariffs, a move that could affect supply and consumer prices. Argentina’s retail sales, meanwhile, were down 2.1% cumulatively. Beverage Demand: Constellation Brands beat quarterly estimates, but investors questioned whether higher beer shipments reflected stronger demand or distributors rebuilding inventory.

Workplace Safety Tech: Kwema won a national award for its “smart badge reel,” designed to help healthcare workers trigger alerts without escalating workplace violence. New RTD Mezcal Brand: Noctría launched in Los Angeles with two five-ingredient mezcal-based ready-to-drink cocktails aimed at nightlife and hospitality. Search Tools for LATAM Marketers: Google Search Console now lets users combine multiple countries in one performance view, cutting the need for manual aggregation. Crypto & Payments in Emerging Markets: OKX launched OKX Money, bundling stablecoin savings and cards in one app, targeting emerging-market users. Brazil Gambling Retail Relief: Brazil clarified that betting-logo shirts already manufactured before the gambling ban can keep selling, while new production and promotions remain prohibited. Travel & Consumer Timing: Google shared holiday flight booking tips using historical Google Flights data, pushing travelers to use AI Mode/Search for best-price timing. Food Waste & Climate: A new push highlights how rescuing uneaten food can reduce methane and slow warming. Aviation/Trade: Illinois hosted Latin American grain buyers to strengthen export relationships via firsthand logistics tours.

Frozen Food & Retail Deals: Brazi Bites is adding Chocolate Chip Waffles to its naturally gluten-free line, rolling out to select retailers nationwide. Consumer Promotions: National Taco Day 2026 is driving chain deals and freebies, including Taco Bell’s Duolingo tie-in and $2 taco offers at Moe’s. E-commerce & Payments: MercadoLibre shares slid despite fast revenue growth, with margin pressure tied to Brazil shipping thresholds, credit issuance, and AI spending. Fintech for Everyday Spending: OKX Money launches a stablecoin savings-and-payments app that converts 50+ currencies into dollar-backed tokens and offers cards plus rewards in parts of Latin America. Health & Pharma Access: Knight Therapeutics won ANVISA expedited approval for NIKTIMVO in Brazil and launched TAVALISSE for chronic ITP patients. Logistics for Food Supply Chains: CPKC set September and Q3 grain-transport records across Canada and the U.S. Sustainability in Food: Researchers in Miami are testing a way to turn sargassum into animal feed using black soldier fly larvae.

Brazil Election Shock: Flávio Bolsonaro surged ahead of Lula in Brazil’s first round, setting up a tight Oct. 25 runoff and boosting expectations for a rightward shift that could move markets and policy. Food Safety & Imports: The FDA closed its jalapeño-linked Salmonella probe after 488 illnesses across 34 states, unable to pinpoint the contamination route—raising fresh questions about how imported produce is checked. Consumer Health & Retail: L’Oréal is exploring options with restructuring advisers over rising U.S. legal liabilities tied to talc and other chemical ingredients, as well as hair relaxer cancer lawsuits. Payments & Fintech: Stripe and Zerohash alumni are backing Latitude Global’s push to speed international payments using stablecoin rails, targeting faster settlement across emerging markets. Tourism & Travel Demand: Caribbean tourism leaders urged destinations to diversify offerings without diluting local authenticity, with youth and artisan skills highlighted as key levers. Venezuela IP & Quality Labels: Caracas hosted “Footprint of Origin,” showcasing 18 Venezuelan DOC/PGI products and the role of intellectual property in protecting regional brands. Energy Costs for Households: Diesel price pressure is hitting farmers’ margins, with organizers linking fuel costs and tariffs to tighter budgets and higher operating strain. Cruising Value Shift: Cruise data shows travelers are trading down from balconies to outside cabins as advertised prices rise, driven by affordability stress.

Brazil Election Watch: Flávio Bolsonaro surged to a surprise lead over Lula in Brazil’s first round, setting up an Oct. 25 runoff and likely boosting investor sentiment as markets price a rightward shift. Retail & Telecom in Brazil: Vivo teamed up with Vale Saúde Farma to offer prepaid customers medicine discounts of up to 60% at 7,000+ pharmacies, unlocked via the Vivo app after top-ups. Brazil Connectivity: Grupo Mais bought RT NET, adding 9,000 broadband customers and lifting its fiber footprint to 150,000 homes passed. Food Prices & Supply Chains: A new analysis links grocery costs to far-off shocks—wars, shipping disruptions, droughts in Brazil, and rainfall in Asia—after the FAO index’s stability gave way to 2020s volatility. Colombia Ecommerce Logistics: Colombia’s ecommerce import boom is straining inbound air cargo capacity, with weekly volumes estimated at 3,000–4,000 tonnes and capacity tightening despite rising routes. Energy Costs: Philippines fuel prices move again—gasoline and kerosene up, diesel slightly down—after last week’s rollback. Consumer Tech: Lonely Planet launched an AI travel-planning app that uses its own content to build tailored itineraries and recommendations. Payments & Regulation: Brazil gambling rules are rewriting Pix payment rails, blocking bets on three payment networks. Corporate Restructuring: Creditors approved Oi’s Tahto judicial reorganization plan, moving it toward final court ratification.

Brazil Runoff Watch: Brazil’s presidential election is headed to a second round on Oct. 25 after Flávio Bolsonaro won the first round but fell short of 50%, with Lula close behind—setting up a high-stakes consumer and business backdrop for the region. Consumer Policy: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1349 to tighten rules on ticket sellers and resale platforms, targeting bots, misleading listings, and unauthorized sales. Food & Retail Safety: GraceKennedy Foods recalled specific batches of Grace Tropical Rhythms Fruit Punch 1L across parts of the Caribbean due to a quality issue. GLP-1 Side Effects: An international survey presented in Vienna found nail detachment reported far more often among GLP-1 users than nonusers, including participants from Brazil and Mexico. Payments Infrastructure: BCEAO made PI-SPI mandatory for interoperable electronic money transactions across UEMOA from Nov. 2 and revised fees, aiming to improve service quality and spur new uses. Travel & Hospitality: IHG’s new voco Cancún Zona Hotelera has a live property page, but the opening date still isn’t clear. E-commerce Competition: MercadoLibre’s revenue momentum continues to outpace Coupang, a signal investors are watching for whether the gap widens or stabilizes.

Aviation & Travel (LATAM): JetBlue adds daily nonstop Fort Lauderdale–Barranquilla service, expanding Colombia connectivity beyond Medellín and Cartagena, with Cali slated to launch later in October. Air Routes (LATAM): Southwest announces new nonstop summer 2027 routes from Austin to Nassau, Punta Cana, and Liberia—boosting direct access to the Caribbean and Central America. Consumer & Food Safety: The U.S. food “cyclospora” scare keeps spreading: reports say the FDA closed its lettuce parasite probe and linked the outbreak to Taylor Farms Mexico, while recalls and menu pullbacks have turned food safety into a political issue. Retail & Payments (Cross-border): Mexican trade officials warn identity thieves are targeting customs payments in cross-border freight by impersonating importers and brokers—especially when urgent requests pressure staff to move money fast. Tech & Finance (LATAM-facing): Revolut’s $115B valuation highlights its push to become a global bank, including expansion plans into markets like Mexico. Tourism Partnerships: Greece and Brazil agree to deepen tourism cooperation, focusing on institutional ties and better air connectivity. Food & Lifestyle: Costa Coffee returns to profit in the UK after revamps, adding iced drinks and matcha while leaning on decaf demand.

Food Safety & Imports: Mexico said an FDA cyclospora investigation tied to Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce did not conclusively pinpoint the contamination source, even as the FDA reported strong links and Mexico’s own lab tests came back negative for the parasite in raw materials, finished products and water. Global Food Prices: The FAO reported September’s global food price index hit the highest level since late 2022, with broad increases in cereals, vegetable oils and sugar amid weather shocks and shipping disruptions. Retail & Consumer Demand: Costco faces a new Oregon federal lawsuit alleging products linked to child and forced labor, including cashews and shrimp, as the retailer faces scrutiny over “ethically sourced” claims. Brazil Consumer Context: With Brazil’s election on Oct. 4, coverage highlights how the outcome could shape crypto oversight and broader policy direction, while voters in Sao Paulo and beyond head to the polls. LATAM Business Travel: Africa’s MICE leaders urged governments to treat meetings and exhibitions as a deal-making engine for investment and jobs, not just tourism.

Venezuela Oil Scrutiny: U.S. lawmakers demanded transparency over a Trump administration deal to buy a stake in a Barbados firm tied to Venezuela’s oil, asking for the agreement text and how profits will reach Venezuelans. Travel Retail Demand: A report says Middle East airports are seeing duty-free sales rebound, with perfumes and cosmetics leading, while some regions still lag 2019 per-passenger levels. Food Safety in Focus: The U.S. FDA closed its cyclospora lettuce probe, pointing to a strong link to Taylor Farms Mexico, after earlier findings of a potential source. Brazil Election & AI Rules: Brazil’s election regulator is tightening AI use rules for campaigns, as AI-generated avatars and impersonation risks rise ahead of a high-stakes vote. Payments & Crypto Rails: Brazil’s regulated market infrastructure is moving onto the XRP Ledger via CSD BR and Ripple, signaling more institutional tokenization. Logistics & Ports: AD Ports completed its $835m acquisition of Brazil’s CLI port terminal operator, expanding agri-bulk export capacity. Consumer Tech: Meta unveiled Petal, a major subsea cable project aimed at boosting transatlantic capacity for its AI-driven services. Retail & Brands: Hormel agreed to buy Brakebush Brothers for about $1.055B to strengthen value-added chicken and foodservice reach.

Food Safety: The US FDA closed its cyclospora investigation, saying it found the parasite in Taylor Farms de Mexico’s environment and reported a strong link to recalled shredded iceberg lettuce, though it can’t pinpoint exactly how contamination happened. Food Recalls: Walmart expanded a nationwide recall of Bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine over possible listeria contamination; meanwhile, USDA flagged recalled potato chips made in Colombia because the country isn’t eligible to export certain meat products to the US. Trade & Agriculture: The EU signaled it could resume chicken and honey imports from Brazil after a positive audit, with a technical review set for late October. Retail & Consumer Spending: Nike announced another restructuring round (“Pace”), consolidating regions and planning further layoffs as sales pressure continues. Energy Prices: G7 countries agreed to release 100 million barrels of diesel and fuel from reserves to cool record prices, a move that could ripple into Latin America’s fuel costs and supply. Payments & Finance: Absa became Africa’s first bank to offer institutional Bitcoin custody, using Ripple tech, as crypto services expand. Logistics: OOCL launched Transpacific Latin Atlantic Service 3 (TLA3), adding new direct links between China and South America’s east coast.

Food Safety: Salata Salad Kitchen Jalapeño Avocado Dressing was hit with an FDA Class I recall after potential Salmonella contamination tied to an outbreak that sickened 431 people across 32 states, with distribution reported in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. Retail & Consumer Tech: Google expanded its Loyalty Customer Match to AI Mode and Gemini and rolled it out to more countries, adding new ways for merchants to identify loyalty members (including points and completed orders eligibility). Payments & Fintech: Jeeves raised $110M to scale stablecoin-native banking across 35 countries and launched a proprietary stablecoin wallet with payouts to 190 countries. Food & Trade Costs: Trump’s tomato tariffs are pushing up salsa ingredient prices, putting “free chips and salsa” at risk for restaurants. LATAM Business Moves: StoneX agreed to acquire Colombia’s Integra Trading to build a coffee origination and processing platform, while Volaris bought Brazil software firm Teknisa for corporate foodservice and retail operations. Energy & Consumer Impact: Petrobras signed a 22-year LNG deal with Cheniere, aiming to cut exposure to spot-market volatility as global energy prices remain a key driver of downstream costs. Supply & Prices: FAO’s Food Price Index rose in September on weather and transport disruptions, warning pressures could pass through to consumer food prices.

Ticketing Crackdown (US): California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1349 to tighten rules on ticket sellers and resale marketplaces, banning listings before tickets are released without authorization and targeting bot-driven and misleading sales; violators can face penalties up to twice the ticket price. Digital Payments (LATAM): Exodus launched “Exodus Checkout,” letting eligible DIRECTV DGO customers in Argentina pay subscriptions with dollar stablecoins, with plans to expand across Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Ecuador. Retail & Beverages (Mexico): FEMSA scheduled its 3Q26 conference call for Oct. 28, underscoring continued focus on OXXO convenience stores and beverages across Latin America. Consumer Tech & Travel (LATAM): Frontier Airlines said it will add Starlink inflight internet starting early 2027, and the connectivity deal includes Volaris (Mexico) and JetSMART (South America). Food & Climate (Caribbean): Bahamas PM Philip Davis told the UN there’s “no uncertainty” in the climate crisis, warning sea-level rise threatens statehood and livelihoods.