{
  "id": 995699,
  "title": "Havanna Sales Drop 9.7% as Argentina’s Alfajor Icon Falls Into the Red",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/havanna-sales-drop-9-7-as-argentinas-alfajor-icon-falls-into-the-red",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-15T08:31:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/havanna-q2-2026-sales-drop-net-loss/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Argentine household budgets are tightening, as evidenced by a 9.7% drop in sales for Havanna, a beloved alfajor maker. The company reported a net loss of ARS 747 million (~US$502,000) for the second quarter of 2026, marking a shift from profit in the same period a year prior. Havanna's core business of alfajores and café counters saw a 3.1% decline in volume, while operating results fell 55.5%, down to ARS 1,553 million (~US$1 million). The loss was primarily due to thinning margins and the erosion of cash holdings exacerbated by inflation. Despite holding off on raising shelf prices, Havanna still felt the pinch of inflation, which contributed to a 15.8% decline in net profit over the first half of 2026. The brand, controlled by the Argentine investment fund Inverlat since 2016, operates over 250 stores in Argentina and around 230 abroad, with Brazil being its largest foreign market. Havanna's sales decline serves as a bellwether for Argentine consumer spending, reflecting the real impact of inflation on everyday life.",
  "summary": "Argentina · Business Key Facts Net result: Havanna swung to a loss of ARS 747 million (~US$502,000) in the second quarter of 2026, from an ARS 1,044 million profit a year earlier. Revenue: ARS 32,288 million (~US$21.7 million) in the quarter, down 9.7% in real terms. Core products: Alfajores, cookies and Havannets sold ARS 21,673 […] The post Havanna Sales Drop 9.7% as Argentina’s Alfajor Icon…",
  "key_points": [
    "Havanna sales drop 9.7% in Argentina",
    "Alfajor maker reports net loss of ARS 747 million",
    "Inflation and thinning margins blamed for decline"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}