Retail Sector

The Chilean retail sector is composed of a mix of large supermarkets, mid-sized grocery stores, convenience stores, gas station markets, and thousands of smaller independent neighborhood mom-and-pop shops. Post reports that Chile’s retail food sales totaled US$25.6 billion in 2021, representing a 7.6% increase over 2020, whereas supermarket food sales totaled US$14.4 billion, representing 56.3% of total retail food sales in 2021. Despite an estimated decrease in retail sales n 2022, Euromonitor has projected a 2.3% increase per year in retail food sales up to 2026.  

The strict lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic increased online shopping from traditional retailers and via third-party platforms (mainly delivery apps) resulting in 58% of consumers making most retail purchases online in 2021, with one of the largest stores in Chile reporting in 2022 around half of its sales to be online. Chilean consumers consider U.S brands as high-quality, and many of them are well known and present in the market.   

Although there is a demand for natural/healthy products, the Chilean market has been returning to look for indulgence, sweets, and snacks.  

Top product prospects include bakery goods, beef and beef-related products, beer and distilled spirits, cereals, dairy products (premium cheeses and ice creams), egg and egg products, food preparations and soup, natural/healthy products, pasta, pet food, pork and pork products, processed vegetables, pulses, poultry products, tree nuts, and sweeteners.

Food Service Sector

In 2021, the foodservice sector began to recover from the pandemic, and by October 2022, most of the COVID-19 restrictions, such as the use of masks and mobility passes, were lifted. In 2021, consumer foodservice sales grew by 42.5%, reaching $3.5 billion.   

While most of the HRI sector caters to domestic consumers, Chile has a well-developed tourism industry that, before the pandemic, was a destination for adventure tourism, business travel, and events. It also has both domestic and international hotels and restaurants, many of which offer a wide variety of imported food products.  

Even though most of the common distribution channels are local importers and distributors, big box stores and traditional wholesalers have gained appeal in the HRI sector, especially to small firms/independent restaurants and cafeterias. Most hotel and restaurant operators do not import directly.     

Top product prospects include bakery goods, beef and beef products, cereals, condiments and sauces, craft beer, dairy products (cream cheese and mozzarella), pasta, pork and pork products, poultry products, pulses, soup, sweeteners, and tree nuts.

Food-Processing Sector

Chile has a modern and developed food processing industry that represents 13.5% of Chile’s agricultural exports, at $12.8 billion in 2021, and one of the most important economic sectors, contributing 4.5% to the national GDP. In 2021, the United States remained Chile’s third leading food ingredients supplier after Argentina and Brazil. Due to the increasing concerns about health-related issues, there’s a demand in the market for products and ingredients marked as natural, and their ingredients offer good prospects. In addition, many Chilean consumers can afford to buy high-end U.S. products such as beef, pork, dairy products, and distilled spirits. Additionally, prepared foods and ready-to-eat meals have become part of many Chilean diets due to their versatility and availability in many distribution channels. 

Top product prospects include beef products, bakery goods, cereals and pasta, chocolate and cocoa products, condiments and sauces, corn, dairy, distilled spirits, food preparations, fresh fruits, pork products, poultry products, tree nuts, and wheat.