Latin America News & Analysis

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...

Our team of analysts travel around the world, seeking out the latest in FMCG retail innovation. We have selected some of our favourites from the stores we visited in the first half of 2014. HyperCITY, Mumbai, India Selected by Nick Miles, Asia-Pacific Region Manager One of the most innovative modern trade retailers in India, HyperCITY is pushing the boundaries of format development. Pr...

France-based Casino has announced second quarter results saying that it had benefited from organic sales growth of 6.5%, with total group sales reaching €11.9 billion, driven by the performance of its international operations. France: improvement at Géant hypermarkets aids second quarter Casino highlighted the progress it was making in its home market. Although organic sales contracted by 0...

CVS Caremark has acquired Miami-based Navarro Discount Pharmacy chain, the largest Hispanic-owned drugstore chain in the U.S. Stores to remain under Navarro Discount banner The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, includes Navarro’s 33 retail drugstore locations and Navarro Health services, a speciality pharmacy serving. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclo...

Casino-owned, Brazil-based GPA has announced second quarter net sales rose by 13.4% to BRL15.2 billion (USD6.8 billion), aided by a positive calendar impact, continuing high inflation in the country and the addition of 116 new stores in the last year. Food outperforms for GPA GPA said that while net sales for the total business rose by 13.4%, they were up by 14.5% at its food businesses, Mu...

Luis Fernando Gallo, CEO of PriceSmart in Colombia, has spoken of the wholesaler's plans ahead of its first store opening in Bogotá. Store will have differentiating features The Bogotá store will be 11,667 sq m and will be located on the corner of Calle 25 and Avenida Boyacá. Potential members can already begin registering before the store opens in November. It will hold 2,500 national and ...

Seven & I Holdings has reported a 7.9% increase in revenue and a 5.1% increase in operating income for the three months ended 31 May 2014, the first quarter of its FY2015 fiscal year. Convenience driving increases in operating income Operating income increases were mainly driven by increased profits in convenience operations. Same store sales improvements were a key factor in the growth a...

In an interview in the Economic Daily newspaper Jerónimo Martins’s CEO, Pedro Soares dos Santos, discussed the retailer’s development plans for Colombia. Retailer looking to double store numbers in market in 2014 Pedro Soares dos Santos said that Jerónimo Martins had opened eight Ara stores in the first half of 2014 and was planning to add a further 42 before the end of the year, a feat tha...

Belmiro Gomes, responsible for cash & carry at GPA, has revealed plans to open 40 Assaí stores over the next three years, and to enter new states in Brazil. Dynamic and fast-growing format Mr Gomes has been in charge of Assaí since 2010, when he began a process to overhaul the atacarejo stores - cafés have been added, aisles are wider - to make the shopping experience more enjoyable. The st...