AGP Executive Report

Online Shoppers: Consumers aged 45 and over are expected to drive 51% of emerging-market online spending growth through 2036, adding $4.4 trillion, according to World Data Lab and payments firm EBANX. The shift gives retailers a reason to make mobile shopping work for older customers, too. Colombian Coffee: Colombia plans to renew more than 80,000 hectares of aging coffee plantations and offer growers low-interest loans to cut costs and protect its global market share. The government is also courting Lavazza and Illy to invest in local roasting and packaging, capturing more value at home. Puerto Rican Spirits: Artisanal brand Tres Santos Mezcal reports sales growth of 40% to 45% this year, with more than 250 restaurants and bars helping drive demand. Poultry Trade: A Newcastle disease outbreak on a Brazilian turkey farm has put exports at risk; Mexico has suspended Brazilian poultry imports. Retail Shake-up: Americanas has exited restructuring in Brazil, but the retailer now faces a test of its competitiveness.

Retail Recovery: Brazilian retailer Americanas has formally exited bankruptcy proceedings, a key step in its effort to rebuild after the accounting scandal that triggered its 2023 filing. Food Deals: M. Dias Branco bought a majority stake in Brazilian bakery group Grespan, expanding its food business. Colombian Food Scene: Pizza Master is bringing specialty pies to restaurants in 49 cities through Oct. 25, with entries priced at about US$6. Cafés de Colombia Expo also drew more than 180 exhibitors, putting coffee quality and consumer education in the spotlight. Mexico Investment: Nestlé is doubling its investment in Mexico to $2 billion, a major commitment to the country’s consumer market.

Food & Retail: Brazil’s M. Dias Branco bought a majority stake in bakery group Grespan, expanding its consumer foods business. Mercado Libre expects to finish the year with 72 logistics centers in Brazil, adding capacity to serve online shoppers. Digital Payments: Tap to Pay on iPhone is coming to eight Latin American countries through six partners, giving merchants more ways to accept contactless payments. Food Costs: A lean coffee harvest is expected to push prices higher, adding pressure for consumers. Fresh Produce: Chilean avocado exports hit a record, while Camposol expanded its Mexican avocado business through an investment in grower Jaliscavo. Mexico Investment: Nestlé plans to double its investment in Mexico to $2 billion, a major expansion in one of the region’s largest consumer markets.

Seasonal Treats: A Mexico City shop is drawing crowds with Catrina-shaped ice creams ahead of Day of the Dead, turning local tradition into a timely product hit. Digital Payments: Apple’s Tap to Pay is available to merchants in eight Latin American countries, letting them accept contactless payments with an iPhone instead of a card reader. Food Affordability: Mexico is close to leaving the FAO’s hunger map, its representative says, after more than 8 million people escaped poverty; the government also plans food and seed support for farming communities in Guerrero. Coffee Prices: Lean harvests and rising costs are putting upward pressure on coffee prices, a concern for consumers and producers across the region. Consumer Goods Investment: Nestlé plans to double its investment in Mexico to $2 billion, signaling a major bet on the country’s consumer market.

Digital Payments: Peanut is testing a digital-dollar wallet in Paraguay, letting users hold USDC and pay by card without a local bank account. Powertranz and Mastercard are bringing pay-at-table contactless and QR payments to restaurants in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. Food & Drink: Buenos Aires’ Expo Matear showcased yerba mate products and traditions. Brazil’s egg consumption has more than doubled in 20 years, while poultry supplies 82% of the Caribbean’s animal protein. Retail & Investment: Nestlé plans to double its investment in Mexico to $2 billion, and Mercado Libre expects to end 2026 with 72 logistics centers in Brazil, extending its reach to shoppers. Auto Industry: KTM opened a Manaus plant with capacity for 20,000 motorcycles a year, expanding local production. Market Pressures: Colombian hamburger chain Presto faces liquidation after a debt deal failed.

Beauty & Retail: Carol’s Daughter founder Lisa Price visited Pennywise in Trinidad, connecting the beauty brand’s Caribbean roots with local shoppers. Brazil Economy: Economic activity rose 0.3% in August, led by industry, as the central bank seeks to cool inflation. Motorcycles: KTM opened a Manaus plant with capacity for 20,000 bikes a year, targeting 3,500 units in 2026. Caribbean Food: Poultry supplies about 82% of the region’s animal protein, keeping local production central to food security and affordable supply. Mexico Investment: Nestlé plans to double its investment in Mexico to $2 billion. Online Retail: Mercado Libre expects to end 2026 with 72 logistics centers in Brazil, while Magalu is expanding its online reach through a Shopee marketplace deal. Household Costs: Argentina’s basic-basket costs are rising faster than inflation, adding pressure on consumers.

Food Demand: Brazil’s egg consumption has more than doubled in 20 years, while a new Mexican delivery survey found pizza now beats tacos. Colombia exported 88,194 tonnes of Hass avocados in the first half of 2026. Retail & E-commerce: Movistar has become Tigo in Colombia following Millicom’s takeover, reshaping the country’s telecom market. In Brazil, retailer Magalu is expanding its online reach through a deal with Shopee. Produce & Investment: Chilean avocado exports hit a record, and Camposol is growing its Mexican avocado business with a deal for grower Jaliscavo. Packaging: Owens-Illinois nearly doubled its packaging launches in Brazil, adding momentum to consumer-goods innovation.

Auto Expansion: Changan is taking its NEVO Q05 to more Latin American markets after launches in Colombia and Uruguay, with Ecuador, Chile and Peru next; its hybrid CS55 PLUS is also set for regional rollout. Retail & Investment: Nestlé plans to double its Mexico investment to $2 billion, while Brazil’s Magalu is widening its online reach through a Shopee deal. Food Supply: Chilean avocado exports hit a record, and Brazil’s apple harvest is forecast to rise 20% to 1.2 million tons. Brazilian Consumers: Electricity theft cost the country R$11.5 billion last year, with R$7.9 billion passed on to customers and adding 3.1% to bills. The government is considering credit lines for businesses as a shorter workweek and consumer tax reform take effect in 2027. Regional Trade: Venezuela’s El Guamache port received 182 containers of goods for Nueva Esparta and shipped canned sardines, frozen fish and seaweed to international markets.

Avocado Expansion: Peru’s Camposol has taken a stake in Mexican grower Jaliscavo, adding year-round supply for North American retailers. Chile also set a record, exporting 160,000 tonnes in 2025/26 as rising global supply puts pressure on returns. Retail Growth: Mercado Libre tapped J.P. Morgan Payments to streamline cross-border selling from U.S. businesses into six Latin American markets. Nestlé doubled its planned investment in Mexico to $2 billion, while Grupo Bimbo said 98% of its daily-consumption portfolio meets its positive nutrition standards. Food Supply: Brazil’s beef exports face a tougher 2027, with tighter supplies and trade barriers expected to limit shipments; the country is seeking alternative markets.

Fresh Produce: Camposol is taking a stake in Mexico’s Jaliscavo, adding avocado sourcing in Jalisco to its Peru and Colombia operations and diversifying supply. Mexico Investment: Nestlé plans to double its investment in Mexico to $2 billion, expanding its commitment to the country’s consumer-goods market. Retail and E-commerce: Uruguay’s Scanntech raised $180 million to speed international expansion of its retail sales-data platform, while Mercado Libre expects to end 2026 with 72 logistics centers in Brazil. Household Costs: Lula proposed free weekend public transport nationwide ahead of Brazil’s runoff; a bill to shorten the workweek also cleared the Senate. Consumer Products: Grupo Bimbo says 98% of its daily-consumption portfolio meets positive-nutrition criteria, and Korean skincare brand Medicube has launched in Chile.

Retail & Investment: Nestlé is doubling its investment in Mexico to $2 billion, while Mercado Libre plans to end 2026 with 72 logistics centers in Brazil, bolstering its delivery network. Beauty: Korean skincare brand Medicube is entering Latin America with a launch in Chile. Mobility: GAC has launched in Guyana, bringing new vehicles and electric models backed by extended warranties. Circular Economy: Brazil’s post offices now accept small electronics for free recycling, offering consumers a nationwide drop-off network. Regional Supply: CARICOM teams are assessing local production of paints, cement and glass bottles—a review that could shape tariffs and the region’s supply options. Coffee: Colombian brand ¡Dios Mío! Coffee is entering Costco in parts of the U.S. with an exclusive large-format blend.

Mexico Investment: Nestlé is doubling its planned investment in Mexico to $2 billion through 2030, funding production upgrades and local agriculture and supply chains. Brazil E-commerce: Mercado Libre expects to finish 2026 with 72 logistics centers in Brazil, expanding its delivery network. Food Trade: Colombian exotic fruit exports have reached US$49.1 million in 2026, while Brazil says it has opened 700 agricultural markets since 2023. Telecom Shift: AT&T is selling its Mexico business to Televisa and Fintech Holdings for $2 billion, reshaping the country’s telecom market. Household Costs: Argentina’s basic basket is rising faster than inflation, pushing up the poverty threshold; in Colombia, one in five families faces hunger amid higher food prices and El Niño risks. Retail Growth: Venezuela reported 93 supermarket openings in 2026, as domestic products make up most goods on supermarket shelves.

Telecom: AT&T agreed to sell its Mexican business to Televisa and Fintech Holdings for $2 billion. Televisa expects its share of Mexico’s fixed and wireless subscribers to rise to 19% from 8%, setting the stage for wider service bundles. Grocery Costs: A representative for Mexican avocado importers warns that proposed U.S. seasonal import limits could lift prices and squeeze supply, without addressing California growers’ costs. Inflation: Argentina’s inflation rate was 1.9% in September, its second month below 2%, though annual inflation remains high at 33.4%. Local Supply: Venezuela’s supermarket association says domestic goods make up 90% of products available in stores, underscoring the role of local producers in consumer markets.

Payments: MTS launched QR-code payments in Colombia and Argentina through its My MTS app, letting Russian users pay at local shops from ruble accounts. Food Prices: Argentina recorded a second straight month of inflation below 2%, while one in five Colombian families faces hunger amid rising food costs and El Niño risks. Guyana’s president is pushing long-term price agreements between farmers and food processors, plus more storage, to steady supplies and prices. Retail & Beauty: Venezuela’s supermarket association says 93 stores opened this year, with more domestic brands on shelves. Galderma is reportedly nearing a $1.5 billion purchase of ZO Skin Health, expanding a beauty group that recently opened its Latin America headquarters in Miami. Farm-to-Market: Mexican mango exporters are focused on postharvest quality to reach global markets, while Colombian banana producers contend with low output and weaker prices. A new weekly shipping route from Puerto Antioquia links Colombia with Asian ports, adding export capacity. Fashion: Zara’s first Ayrton Senna collection is on sale in Brazil and other markets, drawing on the racing legend’s off-track style.

Food & Retail: Xcel Brands plans to take Mexican-American chef Jenny Martinez’s Mesa Mia from social media into U.S. grocery aisles, building a packaged-food line around family recipes and flavors from Jalisco. Brazil E-commerce: Malaysia’s 10 Cents Capital is exploring support for VIVAMOMENTO, a planned shopping and membership platform starting in São Paulo, with a focus on suppliers, delivery and local operations. Consumer Prices: Colombia’s annual inflation rose to 6.29% in September, with services driving the increase. Market Integrity: Brazilian authorities have linked fuel fraud, adulteration and tax evasion across more than 1,000 petrol stations to an organized-crime network, raising concerns for consumers. Coffee Supply: Colombian coffee production fell 15% to 12.65 million bags, a setback for a key regional product.

Tourism: Peru was named South America’s Leading Destination for the fourth year running, also winning awards for culinary, cultural and nature tourism. Autos: BYD’s Guyana dealer introduced two seven-seat plug-in hybrids, expanding local choices with electric driving and petrol range. Digital Shopping: A survey found 94% of Brazilian consumers are open to AI shopping agents, second only to China among seven markets studied. Food Supply: Peruvian producer Ocho Sur certified 2,234 hectares of palm oil as organic, opening access to US and Japanese markets. Prices: Brazil’s inflation reached 4.58% year over year in September, with monthly inflation at 0.82%. Coffee: Colombia’s coffee production fell 15% to 12.65 million bags, tightening supply from a key regional producer.