Global consumers’ intent to buy food and beverages online increased 44 percent in two years, with 26 percent of global respondents reporting they planned to purchase food and beverage products by way of a device with Internet access, such as a computer, mobile phone or tablet, in the next three to six months, according to market research firm Nielsen, New York.

Accounting for more than 52 million people in the United States, Latinos are expected to represent the majority of the population growth during the next five years and have become prominent influences in all aspects of American life, according to New York City-based Nielsen’s “The State of the Hispanic Consumer: The Hispanic Market Imperative” report. Nielsen projects that the buying power of Latinos, which in 2010 ranked at $1 trillion, will increase 50 percent to $1.5 trillion by 2015.