The Panamanian government announced that Grupo Rey plans to invest in the construction of a distribution center, which will be located in the community of Pacora on a 55-hectare plot of land.
According to the Government of Panama, the Ecuadorian consortium Corporacion Favorita, owner of Grupo Rey, which groups a chain of supermarkets and stores, is planning to execute an ambitious investment plan in the next few years.
Meeting the demands of consumers who increasingly seek responsibility in the production chain and balancing sales between physical and digital formats are part of the challenges faced by businesses in Panama.
The CEO and president of Grupo Rey, Hernán Muntaner, points out that globally the sales of modern channels such as hypermarkets and supermarkets are decreasing, giving way to other forms such as online channels and discount stores.
After a $20 million global investment, Grupo Rey launched a meat processing plant and a cold and frozen distribution center.
By inaugurating two industrial plants, which together cover an area of 7,400 m2 and are in the capital, in the La Locería sector, the business group aims to improve production, distribution and supply processes.
In Panama, the owners of Grupo Rey agreed to sell 60% of the shares to Ecuador's Corporacion Favorita, a transaction that could cost $273 million.
The Share Acquisition Public Offer (OPA) launched by Corporacion Favorita was established at $8.58 per share, in which the Ecuadorian group committed to purchase 60% of the issued shares, for which it will acquire approximately 31.8 million shares.
It can take up to 2 years to obtain approval in the health registration process to import a food or pharmaceutical product produced abroad.
Up to $2600 must be paid for processing the health registration of a medicinal product or a foodstuff which was prepared, for the most part, in developed countries with high quality standards. As pointed out by President of Grupo Rey, Nicholas Psychoyos. "...
Food distribution companies have recorded an increase in sales of products which are low-calorie, natural and gluten free.
Rita Gutierrez, manager of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Grupo Rey told Martesfinanciero.com that "... For two years we have noticed a significant increase in demand for healthy products on the shelves of supermarkets, as consumers have changed their lifestyle and are looking for a new ways of eating.
Panamanian pharmacies are offering more than medications, turning into convenience stores.
Capital.com.pa reports that: "This is a business model used by large chain pharmacies in the United States, for whom the Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) has opened the doors of the country and apparently local pharmacy chains are preparing for possible competition. "
Panamanians currently spend 40% more than they did in 2009 on grooming, veterinary services, accessories, hotels and other services for their pets.
More and more stores are opening their doors to sell animal products, taking advantage of the high purchasing power and the increase in numbers of foreigners residing in the country.
These shops offer all kinds of services for animals such as grooming, veterinary formalities for travel, hotels, gyms and spas. Yamileth González, manager at veterinary Knino, said the market has been growing steadily and more and more customers are no longer thinking of their pets as animals but as another beloved housemember.
More than 700 small pharmacies are still struggling to survive against the competitive advantages of the big chains and supermarkets.
Most of them form the National Union of Pharmacy Owners (Unprofa), whose president Orlando Perez acknowledged that "supermarkets and large pharmacy chains, represent strong competition for the small scale places, seeing the sale of drugs as a business rather than a social service for their communities. "