Latin America News & Analysis

Spain-based discounter DIA has revealed its Q4 2020 results, which showed total group sales of €1.7 bn and an increase in like-for-like (LFL) sales of 6.9%. The results were particularly positive given DIA’s store numbers fell by 457, with the retailer ending Q4 2020 with a total of 6,169.  Division sales performance DIA Spain’s sales increased by 9%, to €1.14 bn, while LFL sales grew by 10...

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development and evolution of retailers across the world. For the discount channel, one of the biggest changes in 2020 has been the acceleration of developing online services, to catch up with other non-discounter competitors and meet shoppers’ expectations. With profitability being at the heart of the discount model and a key measure of success, the ...

Mexican business FEMSA, which owns the OXXO convenience store chain, are trialling autonomous convenience stores in Mexico. The small-sized units are designed to serve customers in hospitals, apartment complexes and offices. FEMSA has launched two stores in the format, which it has named OXXO Smart. Source: FEMSA Key characteristics of OXXO Smart The stores are fully autonomous (r...

Peruvian business InRetail has acquired Makro’s cash and carry stores in Peru for US$360m. Makro’s South American operations are owned by SHV Holdings, a Dutch business and one of the world’s largest private trading groups. InRetail has agreed to acquire 100% of its operations in Peru (16 stores), which will help it to bolster its multi-format strategy. "This incorporation strengthens our vis...

Femsa Comercio operates over 19,000 OXXO convenience stores across Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Peru, making it the largest grocery store chain in Latin America. On December 1, Grupo Nós,  a joint venture between Raízen and Femsa Comercio, opened the first OXXO convenience store in Brazil. Source: Raízen OXXO stores are 100sq. m (on average). Femsa’s strategy for the banner was to ope...

Grupo Éxito recently opened the 14 th store in its Carulla FreshMarket banner. This forward-thinking format has been certified by the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certifications (ICONTEC) as the first carbon neutral food retailer in Colombia. The business invested COP6.5bn (US$1.9m) in renovating its Carulla 140 store, which opened at the end of November 2020 and is locate...

Although the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed most of our travel plans in 2020, there has been no shortage of new store concepts to see. In our new report, we highlight 50 new food retail and drugstore concepts that are set to inspire store developments in 2021 and beyond. Since the start of the pandemic we have seen a stronger focus on the use of technologies to support a contactless experience and t...

On November 5 Walmart Mexico (Walmex) opened the first store under its Walmart Express banner. Following our in-depth look at the strategy and expansion plans for the new banner, we now take a closer look at the pilot store and its new features. Source: Walmex Refreshed design and layout The store’s design has been modernised. New signage, with large lettering and colourful imag...

Walmex has launched an innovative new supermarket banner in Mexico. Its first Walmart Express store opened November 5 in Lomas del Valle, in the city of Puebla. With an initial investment of MXN1.3 bn (US64m), the business plans to convert existing Superama supermarkets to the new format, as well as opening new stores. Source: Walmex Stores will be a mix of conversions and new stores ...

Spain-based DIA announced group net sales increased by 2.5% to €1.7 bn, with like-for-like (LFL) sales up 6.3%. The retailer continues to improve its performance by focusing on the five pillars of its roadmap, which includes optimisation of its assortment, its private label ranges, online sales and express delivery, franchisees, and operations. Sales performance DIA Spain’s sales increased ...