6 • May | June 2026 • abasto.com • Continues on page 8 The Mexican snack industry isn’t just feeding a nation; it’s conquering U.S. store shelves one spicy- sweet treat at a time. BY HERNANDO RAMÍREZ-SANTOS W alk into any convenience store or supermarket in the United States today and look beyond the usual snacks lined up like soldiers. Among them, and increasingly less hidden, you’ll find tortilla chips rolled up in a neon bag, a spicy man- go popsicle, and peanut candy wra- pped in crumpled cellophane. This isn’t a niche story about eth- nic food. It’s a market takeover, and it started south of the border. A Very Sweet Gold Mine The Mexican snack and confectio- nery sector is experiencing what in- dustry experts call a “golden age.” According to data from Euromoni- tor International, ASCHOCO (National Association of Chocolate, Candy, and Similar Products Manufacturers), and NielsenIQ, the Mexican savory snacks market is valued at over $4.5 billion, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 4.2% through 2028. The confectionery sector, meanwhi- le, closed out 2025 with an approxi- mate value of $62 billion Mexican pesos. And for U.S. retailers, these figures have direct implications: Mexi- co supplies approximately 30% of all confectionery imports into the Uni- ted States, positioning itself as the top single supplier, an advantage solidi- fied by the USMCA. The question for retailers on both sides of the border is no longer whe- ther Mexican snacks have mass appeal. The question is how quickly they can stock the shelves. S p i c y , S w e e t a n d U n s t o p p a b l e Special Insert Sweets & snacks