68 • November / December 2026• abasto.com • Continuation of page . 66 • FOOD INDUSTRY The GLP-1 Basket About 18% of American adults now use a GLP-1 medication, up from 14% a year earlier. These shoppers buy fewer chips, cookies, soft drinks, and candy. De- mand is growing for protein, produce, and yogurt. This is an opening for Hispanic food retailers. The carnicería, the produce de- partment, fresh cheeses, beans and hou- se-made aguas frescas already match what these customers want. The job is to tell that story out loud. From Pilot to Practice FMI reports that 68% of food retailers now use AI, up from 47% a year ago. Grocers spent nearly 2% of sales on technology in 2025, double the prior year. Independents do not need to match the chains dollar for dollar, but they do need to pick their spots. Immigration enforcement has pushed some Hispanic shoppers from in-store to online. The shift is rooted in safety, not preference. A store without a digital front door is leaving those customers to someo- ne else. Three Moves for 2027 1. Lead with fresh and better for you. Build bilingual signs and displays around protein, produce, and smaller portions. Present traditional foods as the healthy choice they often are. 2. Make one technology bet and measu- re it. Pick the problem that costs you the most, whether that is fresh shrink, labor scheduling, or online ordering. Set a clear payback target before you sign the con- tract. 3. Defend value and the SNAP shopper. Track your state’s SNAP changes, expand private label and bulk packs, and make sure every associate can explain EBT and WIC options with respect. 2027 will not be an easy year. But His- panic retailers have always known their customers better than anyone else in the market. Run the store with that same dis- cipline, and the year can be a good one. Immigration control measures, rising fuel prices, and cuts to SNAP benefits could be contributing to the decline in sales at brick- and-mortar stores.