Latin America News & Analysis

As Black Friday approaches, we take a look at how some retailers in Brazil are preparing for the day. Walmart turns up the heat As would be expected, Walmart Brazil is strongly focusing on Black Friday. It will offer discounts of between 40% and 70% on more than 500 products, from the traditional electronics category, to beverages, homewares and health & beauty. According to Patricia Alves ...

The CEO of Cencosud, Daniel Rodríguez Cofré, resigned on 13 November and is to take up a new role in January at Mexico-based FEMSA. Cencosud in consolidation phase Jaime Soler Bottinelli, who has been at Cencosud since 2005, will take over as CEO on 1 January 2015. He became head of the corporate retail division in February 2014, which was created to enable better working between divisions ...

While Walmart's improving US performance  dominates the headlines, we take a look at the wider performance of the business in Q3. The results: our quick take Having issued new guidance last month, downgrading sales growth to 2% to 3% for the full year, the results were broadly in line with expectations. Under the leadership of Doug McMillon, the retailer’s President & CEO since February t...

Walmart has reported consolidated net sales growth of 2.8% for Q3 of Fiscal 2015 (three months ended 31 October 2014). Walmart International grew net sales by 1.7% (+2.9% on a constant currency basis). We look at performance in key Latin American markets. Brazil: focused on strengthening the business Despite the slowdown in the Brazilian economy, comp sales were up 0.8%. The closure of som...

La Anónima is to acquire the 30 stores of fellow Argentine retailer Topsy with effect from 2 February 2015, according to local press reports. Strengthen presence in fast-growing region Topsy is based in Neuquén, capital of the western Argentine province of the same name. La Anónima's president, Federico Braun, said one of the main reasons for the acquisition was the growth in the city, whi...

We recently attended Walmart’s annual meeting for the investment community, providing us with an opportunity to hear directly from the retailer’s senior leadership on plans for the year ahead. Doug McMillon, Walmart’s President & CEO, outlined how the company had adopted a new ‘enterprise approach’ in developing its strategy. “We’ve taken a fresh look at where we want to play – what businesse...

GPA's president, Ronaldo Iabrudi, has said investments for 2015 should be "near or slightly above" the levels of 2014. Sustainable expansion is core focus Speaking to analysts, Mr Iabrudi said 2014 had been a complex and challenging year, however he is optimistic of ending the year well.  Investment in 2015 is likely to remain around the R$1.7bn - R$1.8bn mark (US$684 - US$725m) and will i...

Portugal-based Jerónimo Martins has announced results for the third quarter saying that sales rose 7.3% to €3.3 billion, with growth driven by its Biedronka chain in Poland. However, the retailer noted that the increase in sales came ‘despite food deflation’, which ‘increased pressure on sales value and profitability’, with net profit falling by 20.0% to €92.0 million. Pace of food deflation q...

We look at how retailers across Latin America have fared since the end of July, including latest channel trends, financial performance and other developments. Tough conditions, but leading retailers performing well In their third quarters, Carrefour continued its strong performances in Latin America, while GPA had to face some tough comparatives against the same period a year ea...

Boasting Latin America's third biggest population and strong economic growth prospects, we look at how Colombia is emerging as a market of opportunity. An emerging force in Latin America In the past Colombia hasn't had the best track record. But the country as a whole is on the up. Bogotá sits as the fulcrum for much of this investment, though investors are starting to look more at other p...