8 • May | June 2026 • abasto.com • Continuation of page 6 • Continues on page 10 Chile Changed Everything To understand the Mexican snack boom, you have to understand one ingredient: chile. Seven out of ten Mexican confectionery products exported to the U.S. contain some element of chile or tamarind. This is a category growing three times faster than traditional cho- colate in the U.S. market, accor- ding to the latest export projec- tions. Data from NielsenIQ shows that consumption of Mexican snacks in non-Hispanic U.S. households grew by 15% in 2025, driven by young consumers seeking intense and complex flavor profiles. The industry already has a name for this: “swicy,” the combination of sweet and spicy. Some Mexican brands have re- ported 9% annual growth in their chili-flavored popsicle lines in the U.S. market, surpassing the tradi- tional fruit popsicles that domina- ted the category just five years ago. They’re also using new strategies to grow, signing co-branding deals with American giants like General Mills and Kraft Heinz to launch Mexican-flavored cereals, gelatins, and popcorn. The move is less about novelty and more about legitimization: placing the “Mexican flavor” stamp on products that occupy the main shelf, not the specialty section. The Production Machinery Behind the Success Meeting U.S. demand did not happen by chance. Major producers have made aggressive infrastructure investments. Grupo Bimbo’s Barcel division has expanded capacity at its Toluca and Mexicali plants specifically for Takis, allocating 60% of its production ex- clusively to the export market. Meanwhile, Mondelēz’s plant in Puebla, the world’s largest gum fac- tory, is recording record shipment volumes of Trident and Clorets to the U.S. and Canada. Convenience store chains have taken notice. Wawa, Casey’s, and 7-Eleven have collectively increased their in- ventory of Mexican sweets and snac- ks by 25% this year. The grab-and-go format, small, accessible, and full of flavor, fits almost perfectly with the convenience store model. 7/10 of Mexican confectionery products exported to the United States contain some element of chili or tamarind Special Insert Sweets & snacks