Latin America News & Analysis

Brazil's RaiaDrogasil has reported a 17.4% increase in net revenue for the first half of 2014. Breaks 1,000 store barrier in Q2  RaiaDrogasil opened 29 new stores in Q2, to end June with 1,015; it said it was the first Brazilian drugstore chain to operate 1,000 stores. Two milestones were the first stores in Recife, in the north-east, and the first airport store at Guarulhos international ...

Latin American e-commerce operator MercadoLibre has reported net revenue growth of 15% for the six months ended 30 June 2014. Number of customers using mobile is on the increase Brazil, MercadoLibre's biggest market, grew revenues by 34% in local currencies during the second quarter. Overall in Q2, revenue growth was stable at +22% in US dollar terms and +47% in local currencies, excluding Ve...

Walmart has re-launched its Walmart.com platform, overhauling existing features and introducing a number of new ones, to deliver a more personalised and faster shopping experience. Pangaea provides foundation for global best-practices The foundation for the improvements which are being made to the website is the retailer’s internally developed Pangaea ecommerce platform. This brings togeth...

Carrefour has today (31 July) reported growth in recurring operating income of 13.8% for the first half of 2014, and an increase in net income of 16.7%. For France, Carrefour reported 'good profitability in all formats' and a 6.9% increase in recurring operating income. Improved gross margin, resulting from decreased shrinkage and cost savings from logistics, was the primary driver. In Eur...

Portugal-based Jerónimo Martins has announced results for the first half of its financial year, with sales rising by 7.2% to €6.1 billion, although held back a contraction in like-for-like sales at its Poland-based Biedronka chain. Declining food prices affect performance Jerónimo Martins said that in its main markets of Portugal and Poland it had seen ‘ a significant decline in food prices...

We look at how retailers across Latin America have fared in the second quarter, reviewing expansion plans and other news, including some great stores we have seen in the region. Improving sales trends continue in second quarter Walmex achieved net sales growth of nearly 4% for the first half. Investment in e-commerce is ongoing, and Walmex is implementing changes to address problems at...

Spain-based DIA has announced second quarter results saying that, in Euro terms, gross sales fell by 2.7% to €3.0 billion, affected by the depreciation of the Argentinean peso and the Brazilian real during the year. Sales fall in Iberia In its home market and Portugal, DIA said that gross sales fell by 2.9% in the second quarter to €1.52 billion, affected by like-for-like sales that contrac...

We report on news from Mexico: first half performance at FEMSA Comercio, operator of Oxxo convenience stores, Soriana and Comercial Mexicana, as well as Círculo K's acquisition. New stores push Oxxo forwards Oxxo's prolific store opening rate once again contributed to a strong increase in sales. The convenience retailer opened a net 348 new stores in Q2, to reach 1,189 net over the past yea...

Walmex has reported net sales growth of 3.8% for the first half of 2014, and sales growth of 5.6% for the second quarter. Economic challenges continue in Mexico Walmex's results were achieved against an ongoing weak economy in Mexico, and a very promotional environment in summer. The timing of Easter provided a favourable calendar effect, and although the World Cup brought benefits such as ...

Éxito has reported a 5.4% increase in operating revenues for the first half of 2014, driven by factors including performance of its omnichannel strategy. Operating profit for the half year was up 8.2%, with an EBITDA increase of nearly 5%. Giving customers choice pays off for Éxito  During the half, the retailer added five new bricks and mortar stores, to reach 474 in Colombia and 54 in Ur...