Argentine confectionery sector profits halve, sales down 20% as chains close

Argentine confectionery chains report a 20% drop in sales versus 2023, with profitability halved and some locations closing. Operators are diversifying into non-core offerings (ceramics, painting, music) to attract customers, indicating a demand shock in discretionary consumer spending. The development signals broad consumer retrenchment in Argentina amid economic strain, though the source is a single business outlet and figures are not independently corroborated.