Mexico Cookies Market- Trend Analysis & Forecasts

Market/ Product Overview

Mexico’s cookie market is a dynamic and growing segment within the country’s broader packaged food industry. The sector has experienced consistent growth over the last decade, driven by a blend of traditional tastes and modern snacking habits. In 2024, the cookie segment accounted for 18-20% of the total Mexican bakery market, reflecting its cultural and economic importance.

Urbanization and the fast-paced lifestyles of over 60% of the population living in metropolitan regions have heightened the demand for convenient snack formats like cookies. Furthermore, the emergence of middle-class consumers—expected to surpass 55 million by 2030—has catalyzed demand for a wide variety of baked goods, from low-cost biscuits to premium imported cookies.

Notably, the rise of organized retail, including supermarkets and convenience stores like OXXO and Walmart Mexico, has expanded shelf space and access to diverse cookie products. E-commerce has also played a role, contributing an estimated **% to cookie sales in 2024 and forecasted to double by 2030. Major domestic brands such as Gamesa (a PepsiCo company) and Marinela (Grupo Bimbo) dominate the landscape, yet they face increasing competition from international players like Nestlé, Mondelez, and private-label offerings from retail chains. This has set the stage for innovation in flavors, ingredients, packaging, and functional health claims.

Significance of Mexico in Global Cookies Supply Chain

Mexico holds a strategically important position in the global cookie supply chain due to its advanced food manufacturing infrastructure and proximity to North and South American markets. As of 2024, Mexico ranked among the top 10 largest cookie producers globally, with production output exceeding ** thousand tonnes annually. The country is also the second-largest exporter of cookies in Latin America after Brazil, with exports valued at over US$ ** million in 2024.

Mexico’s inclusion in international trade agreements such as USMCA (formerly NAFTA), CPTPP, and FTAs with the EU and Japan makes it a highly integrated player in the global food market. The US remains the largest export destination, absorbing nearly **% of Mexico’s cookie exports by value in 2024. In return, Mexico imports high-value cookie varieties—mainly from the US, Italy, and Spain—further enriching domestic offerings.

Its robust logistical infrastructure, including access to Pacific and Atlantic coasts and border access to the US, enables efficient trade movement. Additionally, global food corporations have invested heavily in Mexico’s production facilities. PepsiCo, for instance, allocated over USD 4 billion between 2020 and 2024 in Mexico, a significant portion of which supported the expansion of its cookie brand Gamesa. This reinforces Mexico’s role as both a manufacturing hub and an export base in the Americas' cookie value chain.

Mexico Cookies Supply & Demand Trend

The supply dynamics in Mexico’s cookie market are shaped by strong domestic manufacturing capacity, which fulfills over 85% of the national demand. With factories primarily located in industrial corridors in Mexico City, Jalisco, and Nuevo León, local production leverages economies of scale and access to raw materials such as wheat flour, sugar, palm oil, and cocoa. In 2024, the country produced ** thousand tonnes of cookies, up from ** thousand tonnes in 2021, representing a compound annual growth of 2.2%.

On the demand side, Mexico’s cookie consumption per capita stands at around 7.8 kg per year, slightly above the Latin American average. This consumption is driven by growing demand in tier-1 and tier-2 cities, where exposure to global food trends is higher. Urban consumers are showing greater interest in premium cookies, including options with chocolate chunks, nuts, and gluten-free flour. The demand for cookies with health-oriented labels—like “low sugar,” “high fiber,” or “organic”—has grown by 21% year-on-year since 2022.

While traditional varieties such as vanilla cream-filled cookies and Maria-style biscuits remain staples, demand for innovation is rising. For instance, the introduction of plant-based cookie ranges by smaller brands like Aires de Campo has seen retail sales rise by **% in just one year. This dual pull—toward both affordability and health-conscious options—makes supply chain responsiveness and ingredient flexibility a crucial success factor.

Mexico Cookies Market Growth Factors

Mexico Cookies Market Segmentation

The Mexico cookies market can be segmented by type, ingredient profile, distribution channel, and end-user demographics. Among types, sandwich cookies lead the market with over **% share in 2024, due to their wide appeal across age groups. Chocolate chip cookies follow closely, accounting for **% of the market, largely driven by youth consumption and indulgent snacking behavior. Digestive and fiber-rich cookies represent a smaller yet fast-growing segment, having expanded by **% in 2023 alone.

In terms of ingredients, wheat-based cookies dominate, but there's a notable rise in demand for gluten-free varieties using almond, oat, or rice flour. Sugar-free and low-calorie alternatives now make up about **% of retail cookie sales, a share expected to double by 2028. Moreover, functional cookies fortified with protein, probiotics, or vitamins are emerging, driven by millennial and Gen Z health preferences.

By distribution, supermarkets and hypermarkets account for **% of total cookie sales, followed by convenience stores at **%, and online platforms at 7.3% in 2024. The role of e-commerce is expected to grow rapidly, particularly for premium and imported cookie brands, which are often not available in physical retail outside Tier-1 cities.

Demographically, the largest consumer base remains families with children, but young professionals and health-conscious adults represent emerging target groups. Urban consumers between the ages of 20–40 contributed over US$ ** million to cookie sales in 2024, and this group is especially responsive to branding and digital campaigns.

Mexican consumers display a dual preference for traditional comfort foods and modern, health-oriented innovations. While classic cookies like vanilla and chocolate-filled biscuits remain favorites, there's increasing curiosity about international flavors such as matcha, cranberry, and salted caramel. In 2024, over 28-30% of new cookie launches included non-traditional ingredients or flavors, with coconut and espresso variants showing strong traction.

Mexico Cookies Trade (Export & Import) Trend

Mexico is both an exporter and importer of cookies, maintaining a positive trade balance in recent years. In 2024, Mexico exported cookies worth US$ ** million, predominantly to the US, Guatemala, Colombia, and Canada. Import values stood at US$** million, with key suppliers being the US (42%), Spain (18%), and Italy (13%).

Tariff rates are relatively low due to free trade agreements. Under the USMCA, Mexican-made cookies enter the US duty-free, and vice versa. This has stimulated bilateral trade and enhanced shelf presence of American brands like Chips Ahoy! and Pepperidge Farm in Mexican outlets. However, imports face 15%–20% customs duty from non-FTA countries, which limits penetration by Asian and African brands.

Customs modernization and digitized clearance systems implemented in 2022 have shortened import/export timelines by 25%, enhancing trade efficiency. Seasonal demand spikes—especially during holidays like Christmas and Día de los Muertos—also drive short-term import surges.

Influence of Mexico in Global Cookies Price

While Mexico does not independently set global cookie prices, its role as a low-cost producer influences regional pricing dynamics, particularly in Central and South America. Between 2018 and 2023, average export prices of Mexican cookies rose from US$ 1.32/kg to US$ 1.65/kg, reflecting a 5.6% annual increase, largely due to inflation and higher input costs.

Import prices showed greater volatility, especially for premium European brands, which averaged USD 3.8/kg in 2024. Meanwhile, domestic wholesale prices for generic cookies rose by 9% in 2023, driven by logistics costs and sugar price hikes.

Overall, Mexico exerts soft price pressure in Latin America due to its manufacturing scale and cost-efficiency, often acting as a price reference for mid-tier product categories.

Market Competitive Landscape

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, the Mexico cookies market is poised for steady expansion, reaching an estimated US$ ** billion by 2032. Growth will be powered by product diversification, health-oriented innovations, and the proliferation of digital retail. The share of gluten-free and functional cookies is projected to triple by 2032, catering to a more health-aware consumer base.

Technological advancements in packaging and automation, along with strategic collaborations between local brands and international partners, will further enhance manufacturing efficiency. Export opportunities to untapped Latin American and Asian markets are expected to rise, especially as global players continue to invest in Mexican production facilities.

Despite regulatory and inflationary challenges, Mexico’s young consumer base, openness to innovation, and logistical advantages will ensure the market remains one of the most vibrant cookie sectors in the Western Hemisphere.