What does Guatemala's food retail market look like and which U.S. consumer products lead imports (2024)?

USDA's Retail Foods Annual 2025 (August 19, 2025, 2024 data) puts food retail sales at 9.7 billion dollars in 2024, more than 33 % above 2023;… three chains dominate (Walmart Mexico and Central America, Unisuper and Pricesmart, followed by Super 24 and Grupo de Tiendas Asociadas) yet only 30 % of food sales go through supermarkets,… the rest stays in open-air markets and corner stores. Consumer-oriented imports from the United States were 886 million dollars, led by poultry meat (205 million), dairy (127), pork (117), processed vegetables (84) and beef (79). The United States accounts for 40 % of Guatemala's trade per the report, and since January 1, 2025 nearly all its goods, except white corn, enter duty-free under CAFTA-DR. The food and beverage industry has about 2,200 companies, 46 % of manufacturing, and exported 2.1 billion (18 % of total exports) to some 74 markets. Among the challenges the post cites are registration delays for imported products, cold-chain management in the interior, and the front-of-package nutrition labeling initiative, still under revision and possibly to be required of imports.