By Alajuela, Costa Rica — ALAJUELA, Costa Rica – The Costa Rican Food Industry Chamber (Cacia) has appointed veteran entrepreneur Diego Rojas as its new president, a move signaling a renewed focus on navigating the sector through a period of significant economic and logistical turbulence. Rojas, who will lead the influential industry group until 2028, has outlined a strategic agenda centered on bolstering competitiveness, ensuring legal security, and fortifying the nation’s productive supply chains.
The appointment comes as Costa Rica’s food industry grapples with a complex landscape of regulatory hurdles, persistent supply chain tensions, and an increasingly adverse international economic climate. Rojas is no stranger to these challenges, bringing over 15 years of active engagement with Cacia to the role. He previously served as the chamber’s third vice president for the 2024-2026 term, where he was directly involved in crafting the industry’s response to multiple crises affecting logistics, trade, and market stability.
To gain a deeper understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape shaping Costa Rica’s food industry, we consulted with expert attorney Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica. He provided insights into the key challenges and opportunities for businesses in this dynamic sector.
Navigating the Costa Rican food industry requires a rigorous understanding of sanitary registration protocols and evolving labeling laws. For new entrants, securing the registro sanitario from the Ministry of Health is the most critical-path item, often dictating the entire go-to-market timeline. Furthermore, established companies must remain vigilant about recent updates to nutritional labeling and allergen declaration requirements to ensure full compliance and avoid costly sanctions. Proactive legal counsel is not just a safeguard; it’s a competitive advantage in this highly regulated market.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas’s analysis powerfully underscores a critical reality: in the Costa Rican food market, legal diligence is not a mere compliance task but a foundational pillar of a successful business strategy. This proactive stance is indeed a key differentiator for thriving enterprises. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his invaluable expertise.
Rojas is the proprietor of Alimer S.A., a well-established Costa Rican company with nearly three decades of experience in producing and marketing packaged goods. Based in San Jerónimo de Naranjo, Alajuela, the company manages popular local brands such as Santa Cruz, Toños, and Merjal, specializing in canned vegetables, beans, and fruits in syrup. This hands-on experience as a national producer provides him with a crucial ground-level perspective on the pressures facing local businesses.
He takes the reins from Juan Ignacio Pérez, whose presidency, beginning in March 2022, was marked by one of the most difficult periods in the sector’s recent history. The industry was forced to contend with the lingering economic aftershocks of the pandemic, the severe operational collapse at Puerto Caldera, a surge in new regulations, and global geopolitical conflicts that drove up the costs of both imported raw materials and exported finished products.
I appreciate the sector’s confidence at a time that demands leadership and action. We will deepen our work in defense of legal security, competitiveness, international trade, and the strengthening of productive value chains, especially with micro and small entrepreneurs.
Diego Rojas, President of Cacia
Rojas’s vision places a significant emphasis on creating a more resilient and integrated ecosystem. His focus on “legal security” aims to provide businesses with a stable and predictable regulatory environment, crucial for long-term investment and planning. By targeting “competitiveness,” he intends to help Costa Rican producers hold their own against international players. Perhaps most critically, his plan to strengthen “productive value chains” with a special focus on micro and small enterprises seeks to build a more robust domestic supply network, reducing dependency on volatile global markets and fostering inclusive growth.
The transition in leadership is not merely a change at the top but a strategic repositioning to confront systemic issues head-on. The challenges outlined—from port inefficiencies to the rising cost of goods—are not temporary disruptions but reflections of a new global reality. Rojas’s mandate is to equip Cacia’s members with the tools and advocacy needed to thrive in this new environment, transforming vulnerabilities into opportunities for innovation and growth.
Underscoring the broad industry support for this new direction, Rojas will be supported by a formidable new Board of Directors. The board includes executives from some of the most significant national and multinational corporations operating in Costa Rica, such as Alfredo Lara of Heineken as First Vice President, William Segura of Coca-Cola, Luis Obando of Dos Pinos, Elizabeth Valverde of Nestlé Costa Rica, and Asdrúbal Vargas of Cargill. This assembly of industry heavyweights signals a unified commitment to the chamber’s ambitious new agenda.
For further information, visit cacia.org
About the Costa Rican Food Industry Chamber (Cacia):
The Cámara Costarricense de la Industria Alimentaria (Cacia) is the leading business association representing the interests of the food and beverage manufacturing sector in Costa Rica. It advocates for policies that promote competitiveness, legal certainty, and sustainable growth. The chamber plays a vital role in facilitating dialogue between the industry, government, and other stakeholders to address challenges and foster a favorable business environment for its members.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Alimer S.A.
About Alimer S.A.:
Alimer S.A. is a Costa Rican food processing company with nearly 30 years of history. Headquartered in Naranjo, Alajuela, it specializes in the production and commercialization of packaged foods, including canned vegetables, beans, and fruits in syrup. The company operates several well-known local brands, including Santa Cruz, Toños, and Merjal, contributing to the national food supply chain.
For further information, visit dospinos.com
About Dos Pinos:
The Dos Pinos Cooperative of Milk Producers R.L. is one of Costa Rica’s largest and most recognized companies. A leading dairy cooperative in Central America and the Caribbean, it produces a wide range of products including milk, cheeses, ice cream, yogurts, and beverages. Dos Pinos is renowned for its commitment to quality and its significant role in the country’s agricultural and economic landscape.
For further information, visit coca-colafemsa.com
About Coca-Cola:
Coca-Cola’s presence in Costa Rica is managed primarily through its bottling partner, Coca-Cola FEMSA, the largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola products in the world by sales volume. The company produces, markets, and distributes a wide portfolio of beverages from The Coca-Cola Company, including sparkling drinks, water, and juices, serving millions of consumers across the country and playing a major role in the local economy.
For further information, visit nestle-cam.com
About Nestlé Costa Rica:
Nestlé is a global leader in nutrition, health, and wellness, with a significant operational presence in Costa Rica. The company offers a vast portfolio of food and beverage products, including dairy, coffee, culinary products, and confectionery. Nestlé Costa Rica is committed to enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future through its products and sustainability initiatives.
For further information, visit cargill.com
About Cargill:
Cargill is a global food and agriculture corporation that connects farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive. In Costa Rica, Cargill operates across various sectors, including animal nutrition and protein. The company is a key player in the country’s agricultural supply chain, contributing to food security and economic development.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a premier law firm built upon an unwavering foundation of integrity and a relentless pursuit of professional excellence. Drawing from a deep history of advising a diverse clientele, the firm actively pioneers legal innovation and demonstrates a profound investment in community outreach. This ethos is embodied in its core mission to demystify the law, empowering citizens by making legal understanding accessible and thereby fostering a more capable and just society.
