It is estimated that in Costa Rica at least 40% of the premises located in shopping malls have been forced to close permanently due to the restrictions imposed by the covid-19 outbreak.
Given the gradual return to physical stores, customers will appreciate it if businesses disinfect stores several times a day, if other visitors are required to clean their hands before entering, and if employees use protective equipment at all times.
Although in this context of the spread of covid-19, digital channels have gained ground in Central American markets and this trend is expected to continue in the coming months and years, there are commercial establishments that will have to adjust their face-to-face sales strategy to the demands of the new normality, since there will always be customers who prefer to continue shopping in person.
Reaching consumers in a confined scenario has been a complex task for companies distributing mass consumption products, since the operation of some of the commercial channels has been limited in the region's markets.
In Panama, companies engaged in the wholesale distribution of food products such as oats, beverages, snacks and others have faced challenges during the weeks of home quarantine, which was decreed by the authorities following the outbreak of covid-19.
In April, the Walmart chain invested nearly $8.5 million in the construction and opening of four new stores in Costa Rica.
The company reported that three sales points operate under the Pali format and are located in Ipis de Goicoechea, Guayabo de Bagaces and Dulce Nombre de Cartago. The other establishment operates under the brand Maxi Pali and is located in Los Guido, Desamparados.
Between February 2020 and Easter Week, visits to shops decreased between 40% and 90% in Central American countries, but since April 13 a change in the trend has been observed, reflecting a greater movement of people to shops and other businesses.
According to the "Information System for the Impact Analysis of Covid-19 on Business", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, Costa Rica is the country with the most pronounced change in trend, since as of April 12th the reported drop in physical visits to stores was 79%, while on April 17th the reported reduction was 57% from the levels prior to the health crisis.
The restrictions on mobility decreed in the region open up new opportunities for sales points such as small self-service shops, grocery stores and corner shops, which can make use of home delivery service schemes to boost their sales in this context.
In the current context of health crisis, large supermarket chains have implemented safety and hygiene protocols, which force consumers to assume long waiting times to do their shopping.
In Costa Rica, Inversiones AM PM announced that it plans to open four new convenience stores before the end of 2019.
Representatives of Inversiones AM PM, owner of the AM PM and Fresh Market stores, explained that the store that is closest to being inaugurated is the one that will be located in Guayabos, Curridabat.
After making a strategic alliance with the firm Dollarama, the business conglomerate plans to open 225 new stores dedicated to the sale of home and office goods in El Salvador, Guatemala and Colombia.
It was reported that the Canadian company Dollarama reached an agreement to acquire a 50.1% stake in the chain of stores of Salvadoran origin Dollarcity, in a transaction estimated at $85 million to $95 million.
The Circle K chain of stores, originally from the United States, will open its first store on June 19, which will be in Zone 9 of the country's capital.
Grupo Intur, a business firm that already operates the chain of stores in Honduras and Costa Rica, reported that it will be in charge of investments in Guatemala and that the first point of sale will be in Plaza Asadis, Boulevard Liberation.
Automercado has inaugurated a new point of sale in Guadalupe, San José, and next year it plans to build another in Curridabat, in the east of the capital.
The supermarket which opened its doors in Guadeloupe, required an investment of $1 million, and is the 21st point of sale of the chain Automercado.Representatives explained that "...This is the second supermarket inaugurated under this brand name in the course of 2017 (another opened in Santo Domingo de Heredia last January), thus fulfilling the number of openings planned in the expansion plan from 2016 to 2024."
New stores, remodeling and a distribution center are what Walmart plans to develop in the next two years in the country, with an estimated investment of $200 million.
Of the 255 complex business operating in the greater metropolitan area, 11 are in the regional center format, 42 community, 75 neighborhood, 134 strip, 21 are urban, 7 lifestyle and 5 entertainment.
The figures from Colliers Costa Rica indicate that shopping centers in small formats, called life style and strip centers are those that are beginning to predominate in the metropolitan area.There are currently six projects under construction in the strip format and another 12 which are planned to be developed, according to Colliers.
The number of convenience stores in the country is growing in response to increased purchasing power and a gradual change in consumption patterns.
The number of supermarkets operating in the country increased from 130 in 2012 to 155 this year, says Laprensa.com.ni. As purchasing power increases and consumers get more "sophisticated" so is there a growth in Nicaraguans shopping in these types of establishments rather than the traditional "grocery stores".
In the last five years in Costa Rica the number of these types of outlets has increased by over 30%, and companies in the sector project continued growth in the medium term.
Sales at the 141 convenience stores operating in the country, according to figures from Euromonitor as reported by Nacion.com, have also grown significantly in the last 5 years, going from $44 million in 2010 to $178 million in 2015.
On October 1st and 2nd Central American entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector in Guatemala will be meeting with international buyers from supermarkets, convenience centers, importers and distributors.
Taken from the official website of the event, Manufexport.com.gt:
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