Grocery industry grew 9.4% in 2017

Mexico City (apro) – The National Association of Wholesale Grocery Stores (ANAM) reported that despite high fuel prices that affected input costs, the country’s grocery wholesale sector still achieved a 9.4% growth at the end of 2017. The association, led by Iñaki Landáburu Llaguno, noted that the total sales of the sector in December last year amounted to 174.814 billion pesos, a cumulative increase of 9.4% compared to the same month in 2016, while the National Association of Self-Service Stores and Department Stores (ANTAD) observed only a 6% increase. The products with the highest sales belong to the grocery category, which grew by 12.6%; cleaning and home care, 4.4%; paper, 2.0%; hygiene and personal care, a decrease of 7.6%; and pet food, 21.8%. Among edible products, the top sellers were coffee, at 31.8%; liquid white milk, 22.1%; deli, 23.0%; carbonated, 24.3%; eggs, 37.9%; fried foods, 30.3%; bakery, 28.5%; evaporated milk, 29.7%; processed pulses, 19.0%; grain pulses, 22.6%; and mainly sardines, 23.6%. In terms of generic marketing for cleaning and home care, laundry detergents grew by 1.4%; laundry soaps rose by 9.0%. In contrast, sales of fabric softeners fell by 4.6%, while sales of chlorine and dishwashing detergents also fell by 2.7% and 3.2%, respectively. While sales of hygiene and personal care products such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant and styling agents declined in the last month of 2017. Given these results, the grocery leader expressed confidence that the industry will achieve double-digit growth by 2018. “This is also evidenced by the accelerated growth of the sector in the last three years, in terms of retail sales (i.e. retail outlets throughout the country), which is why it remains a purchase of choice for Mexican families”. Of course, he also admits that 2017 was a year of ups and downs, since it started with the increase in gasoline, which led to an increase in inputs. ANAM has 144 associated companies, more than 3,100 wholesale channel suppliers, covers more than 85% of retail points of sale in Mexico, represents more than 653,000 stores throughout the Mexican Republic, in addition to 5,000 own points of sale.