Every year, we are proud to experience, celebrate, and recognize the achievements of the Latino community in the U.S. during Hispanic Heritage Month.
The events and campaigns from September 15 to October 15 highlight a vibrant and charming culture.
The point of reflection for the Latino Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry is to keep the flask warm year-round, taking advantage of the relevance that Hispanic culture has achieved in the marketplace.
An essential facet to remember and celebrate is the acceptance and preference that many of our foods and beverages have achieved within our Latin American communities living in the U.S. and the non-Hispanic community.
The motto is not to limit ourselves to highlighting our culture for only 30 days of the year but to look for ways to keep our products front and center with a consumer increasingly showing a preference for Hispanic products. And why not? To celebrate Hispanic Heritage.
Number One Hispanic Products to Celebrate Heritage
In several cases, certain Hispanic products have long held a preference among the general U.S. consumer for many years.
For example, salsa has long been the most preferred condiment in the U.S. It overtook ketchup 20 years ago (unofficially). Salsa is now an essential product seen in almost everyone’s refrigerator, and most people do not even consider it an ethnic product.
As the American diet changes, flavor preferences are becoming spicier, with salsa exploding in the mainstream market. With that, more consumers are moving away from the more prominent brands to find more authentic, natural salsas that offer transparency regarding their processes and ingredients.
For instance, fueled by Super Bowl parties year after year, guacamole is the number one dip in the U.S., the favorite in seventeen states. Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Vermont, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas. Did you notice Wyoming?!
The classic Margarita cocktail has been among the most popular drinks in the United States for years and remains top. While there are variations, the traditional recipe consists of tequila, Triple Sec, and lime juice.
Similarly, another drink with Latin roots is the Mojito, one of the most popular cocktails that never fails to delight.
While the exotic flavors of the Daiquiri, a tropical cocktail, include light rum, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and ice.
Even in the beer category, Mexican beer Modelo Especial recently overtook Bud Light as the top-selling beer brand in the U.S., with the growing Hispanic drinking age population and a more significant trend toward premiumization as essential drivers, according to leading consultant NielsenIQ.
So, we can choose between salsa, guacamole, beer, or drinks to celebrate Hispanic heritage.
Popular Food
The popularity of Mexican food is undeniable and will indeed have an excellent future due to the projected growth of the Hispanic population in the U.S. Mexican cuisine reigns as the most popular ethnic cuisine in twenty-seven states, with Chinese food dominating twenty-two.
Related Article: The Rise of Hispanic Products in the U.S. Market
Opportunities Abound
We must take advantage of the fact that millions of consumers have tried Latino products and brands and have liked them to the point of becoming their favorites. But there are still millions who have not tried them.
In South Florida, where I live, I see young Cuban Americans trying all the varieties of empanadas, Argentinean, Colombian, Chilean, etc. Peruvian and Mexican restaurants are full of Hispanics of all nationalities. Why is that? The key is variety.
And what about the vast non-Hispanic consumer market?
I recently attended a wedding party with over one hundred people in North Florida. Most were of Anglo descent. My family and I were the only Latinos. The food selected by the hosts was tasty tacos with every imaginable accompaniment—the beer brand of choice, Modelo Especial.
Let us look at Hispanic Heritage Month as a springboard to be creative, generate campaigns, events, and occasions to promote our products, and take advantage of this beautiful culture that has given us so much throughout the year. Let us keep the party going!