MIDA’s 2026 food outlook to tackle inflation, inventory risks
The Chamber of Food Marketing, Industry and Distribution (MIDA, in Spanish) will host its annual year-end seminar Dec. 11 to present the 2026 economic outlook for Puerto Rico’s food sector.
Under the theme “Consumption in Transformation: Between Inflation and Innovation,” the event will examine how the industry is adapting to rising costs, supply chain constraints and shifting consumer habits.
The seminar will feature economist Gustavo Vélez; Eduardo González-Green, CPA, of Aquino de Córdova LLC; and NielsenIQ Sales Leader Tatiana Irizarry, who will analyze Puerto Rico’s economic performance, financial health and consumer sentiment entering the new year.
“This year-end MIDA seminar has become a benchmark for business planning in the food industry,” said MIDA President Félix Aponte. “Economic predictions are presented along with a financial and consumer trend analysis to help companies make the best decisions and anticipate possible scenarios they will face locally and internationally.”
MIDA Executive Vice President Manuel Reyes-Alfonso said the forum allows industry players to prepare proactively for potential challenges.
“Now MIDA once again brings the analysis to the table so that the necessary decisions can be made to help face 2026 with confidence,” he said.
Vélez’s presentation will focus on global consumer trends, the impact of international conflict on commodity costs and the growth of private labels as shoppers become more price-conscious.
González-Green will discuss inventory management, consumption patterns and inflationary pressures. He said Puerto Rico continues to face vulnerabilities due to limited inventory reserves.
“There are two main areas of concern when we analyze how we are entering the new year in terms of food,” he said. “The first is the issue of inventory days, which allows for having food supplies to face emergencies, and in this regard, the days of inventory supply look very complicated.”
He noted that Puerto Rico averages 18 days of food inventory compared with 20.5 days in the United States, underscoring the island’s dependence on maritime transport. He also cited cost disparities, with average receipts totaling $36.45 on the island versus $33.60 in the mainland market.
Irizarry will present NielsenIQ’s “Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2026,” based on surveys of 19,000 consumers in 27 global markets, including localized data for Puerto Rico. Her report will cover value perception, retail digitalization and factors shaping consumer confidence.
“While 2025 marked a shift from cautious spending to intentional spending, 2026 brings greater complexity and persistent volatility,” Irizarry said. “Key findings show that caution becomes the default mindset, with consumers seeking fewer, clearer choices that offer price, quality and value.”
At the global level, Irizarry said consumer confidence is rising in North America and the European Union, while India and China show the strongest optimism. Her report also examines how artificial intelligence, retail media networks and personalization are redefining how brands reach customers.
