Finding out how many people live in the surroundings of the establishment, their income levels, their ages and their tastes and interests, is fundamental information to measure the potential of a supermarket's location.
Using the Geomarketing solutions we have developed for our clients, CentralAmericaData's Business Intelligence team analyzed the environment of some of the main supermarket locations operating in Central American countries. Below is an excerpt of the study's findings.
Arguing that there are risks that the economic agent will affect market prices, in Costa Rica the Commission for the Promotion of Competition denied Walmart the request to purchase the supermarket group Gessa.
Representatives of the Commission for the Promotion of Competition (Coprocom) informed that the decision was taken unanimously on December 4th and the parties were notified the following day.
During 2012, organic food sales totaled more than $1.374 billion, 14% more than in 2011.
From an article by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
Dutch consumer spending on organic food in 2012 reached more than 1 billion euros, up 14% compared to the previous year, of which 90% was purchased from the supermarket chains Heinjn Albert and Jumbo while the rest was sold in specialty stores and markets.
In Costa Rica the Gessa chain wants to continue to expand its operations and in order to do so is evaluating potential partnerships with investors.
Elfinancierocr.com reports that " Grupo Empresarial de Supermercados (Gessa)-owner of the chains, Jumbo Supercompro, Perimercados, Saretto and Turribásicos- is evaluating the possibility of linking up with a strategic partner in the region to enable them to grow and strengthen its operations in the country. "
The supply of ready made meals in supermarkets and convenience stores is growing at the same rate as consumer demand.
"Current labor demands, stress, the global crisis, security and the limited time available are some of the causes of these changes," said Christian Morales, commercial manager of Grupo Gessa (a conglomerate operating the supermarkets , Perimercados, Jumbo, Super Compro, Turribásicos and Saretto).
From 18th to 20th of June, the mission "Business Opportunities Costa Rica- Colombia: Free Trade, investment and green business", will be in search of new business deals and will promote the country's export supply.
In the first trade mission of this type, organized by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer) the companies taking part include: RainForest Water, Sweet Well, Orgánicos Ecogreen, Alimentos Kamuk, Cafe Britt, Manza-Tea, Bufete Arias & Muñoz, Ampo and MicroTechnologies.
Certain chains are drowning out competition by making huge investments in opening new stores or by buying up other businesses in Costa Rica.
Gessa - owner of Peri, Jumbo, and Supercompro- announced this week its acquisition of Saretto supermarket, located in Escazu. The goal: to break into the premium products segment (gourmet imported), Saretto’s strong point, Guillermo Aguilar, general manager of the corporation, said to Nacion.com.
The National Consumer Commission sanctioned six supermarkets and an imports company because of labeling errors.
These companies were sanctioned for offering the final consumer a product labeled as dairy, but not classified as such.
"In July, ... it ruled against supermarket chains Automercado, Megasuper, Wal-Mart, 'Consorcio Cooperativo de Consumo', 'Prismar de Costa Rica', Perimercados, as well as against 'Mercantil de Alimentos'", reported website El Financiero.