May 23, 2025 – In Latin America, consumers prefer food with sauces and dressings to improve taste, moisture, and good texture. They also add diverse options and richness in food, enhancing the overall presentation of meals. Innova’s 360 research shows how sauces and dressings brands are capitalizing on minimal and high-quality ingredient trends, crafting traditional recipes, and captivating consumers with flavor combinations. The research also highlights future innovation opportunities that innovators may capitalize on to stay ahead in the market.
Sauces and Dressings Category
Table sauces is the top subcategory, followed by cooking sauces, pasta sauces, mayonnaise, vinegar, and dressings in sauces and dressings cluster. In Latin America, leading markets for sauces and dressings include Brazil, Argentina Colombia, Mexico, and Honduras.
McCormick is the key player in Latin America for the cluster launches. Other notable companies in this market include Predilecta Alimentos, Heinz, Conagra Brands, and Unilever.
Minimal and High-Quality Ingredients Trends
Sauces and dressings trends show that 66% of consumers in Latin America prioritize quality when choosing food and beverage brands. Several products, like Loma Linda Salsa De Chile Morita and Alimentos Massalho Molho De Alcaparra, are highlighting high-quality ingredients on their packaging. This interest in high-quality ingredients aligns with ‘Ingredients and Beyond,’ a food trend showing that elevating quality beyond ingredients is important as the desire for additional value becomes prevalent.
Brands are using carefully selected premium ingredients, a minimal and recognizable ingredient list, and optimal production processes to enhance overall appeal. Additionally, they are incorporating a variety of herbal and botanical ingredients to elevate the flavor experience.
Traditional Recipes
2 in 5 consumers in Latin America value foods prepared using traditional cooking techniques/methods. This preference is reflected in the 9% growth of traditional claims over the past year, aligning with the ‘Tradition Reinvented’ food trend. This reveals the rising desire of consumers to embrace authenticity and tradition and re-establish a connection with culinary heritage.
Products combining heritage with novelty, containing time-honored recipes and hand-crafted choices, give consumers a sense of nostalgia. Authenticity is maintained through traditional roasting, brewing, and aging methods, while cuisine variety from regions such as Southeast Asia and Europe provides bold, adventurous flavors for new palates.
Inclusive Options
82% of consumers in Latin America cite that inclusivity is an important value in their diet. Brands in the sauces and dressings market are tapping into this preference by showing halal and kosher certifications, clean labels, and convenient packaging forms with more inclusive offerings to attract a broader consumer base. Also, natural, plant-based substitutes, and gluten-free products based on legumes, vegetables, seeds, and lactose-free cheeses are catering to different dietary requirements.
Reductionism Trends
Sauces and dressings trends reveal that consumers in Latin America are becoming more health conscious, with 37% of them purchasing food and beverages for improving gut or digestive health in recent months. They are actively limiting fat and sugar ingredients in their diets. Brands are focusing on promoting gut health and digestive wellness, highlighting the reductionism trend, such as zero added sugar, less fat, and fewer calories claims, to attract these health-focused consumers.
Additionally, brands can prioritize nutritional benefits by offering compelling choices. Ensuring the inclusion of omega-3s, either alone or combined with other nutrients, to effectively meet consumers’ dietary needs while aligning with their broader wellness goals.
Sauces and Dressings Flavor Trends
Red tomato, chili, garlic, habanero chili, and basil are the top flavors for sauces and dressings cluster launches in Latin America. Food and beverage choices are primarily influenced by factors that are familiar, and healthy and better-for-you aspects.
Flavor combinations like bitter and sweet and sweet and spicy, along with ranges featuring subtle and mild notes, offer diverse taste experiences. Cross-category flavor blends create complex profiles, while products with varying levels of heat, crafted from different chili types and blends, drive the new product development.
What’s Next in the Sauces and Desserts Trends?
The sauces and dressings market is rapidly changing and blending creativity and tradition. The introduction of innovative condiments, crafted with floral and other unique flavors, presents an opportunity to offer consumers complex flavor profiles. This flavor-forward approach can stand out in a competitive market, appealing to consumers.
Innovative packaging approaches can offer consumers greater control when dispensing sauces and dressings, minimizing mess. The spouted pouch and dosing nozzle format simplifies portion control, making it easier to enjoy flavorful additions to meals. Additionally, incorporating a variety of protein ingredients boosts nutrition. The seamless incorporation of dietary fiber and minerals into everyday foods can cater to health-conscious consumers looking for both functional and flavorful options. Brands that leverage flavor innovation and convenient packaging trends are likely to stand out in this competitive market.
This article is based on Innova’s Overview in Sauces & Dressings in Latin America report. This report is available to purchase or with an Innova Reports subscription. Reach out to find out more
