In the region, it is estimated that more than 4 million people show interest in the digital environment for supermarkets, being Walmart, Pricesmart, Paiz, La Torre, La Colonia and Super Selectos, some of the chains that have better positioned in the minds of consumers.
An analysis of the interests and preferences of consumers in Central America, prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, gives interesting results on the preferences and tastes of people in various products, services, store chains, brands and activities.
As part of the FTA signed between the two countries, since January 1, 2020 beef and pork from the U.S. do not pay tariffs or taxes on entry into Costa Rica.
According to the Free Trade Agreement signed, the relief of beef and pork will be valid for 15 years, while the so-called black parts of the chicken, such as thighs and others, will be released until January 1, 2022, in this case for the term of 17 years.
Walmart will market high quality coffee in Costa Rica under the brand Great Value, owned by the supermarket chain, a product that will be manufactured with beans from Tres Rios, Naranjo and Tarrazú.
Representatives of the company informed that Great Value is offered in supermarkets of the formats Walmart and Masxmenos, in presentations of light and dark roast of 340 grams ground and in grain.
The company announced that the new service center specializing in finance and accounting, which will be in Heredia, arises as a result of an alliance with the chain Walmart.
Genpact, a multinational professional services company dedicated to digital transformation, reported that from its new service center in Costa Rica, will support Walmart's operations in Latin America.
Authorities in Costa Rica confirmed their judgment against Walmart's request to buy the supermarket chain Gessa, ending the case through administrative channels.
At the beginning of December 2018, the Commission for the Promotion of Competition (Coprocom) denied Walmart the request to purchase the Gessa group. Days later, the two companies involved in the transaction filed two appeals to overturn the decision.
In response to the brake placed by the Commission for the Promotion of Competition on the purchase of Gessa by Walmart, in Costa Rica both companies presented two independent appeals that seek to revoke the blockade of the transaction.
Last week, the Commission for the Promotion of Competition (Coprocom) denied Walmart the purchase request of the supermarket group Gessa, and just days later, on December 10th, the two companies participating in the transaction filed two appeals to overturn the judgment.
Walmart El Salvador is investing $24 million in the construction of two new stores, which will be located in Antiguo Cuscatlán and Ahuachapán.
The supermarket chain reported that this year they are making investments in the construction of two new stores in the departments of La Libertad and Ahuchapán, and also carry out remodeling work in another existing sales point in the municipality of Santa Tecla.
In Costa Rica, the pig farmers' association has filed a complaint alleging that importers such as Walmart, Cargill and Sigma Alimentos are manipulating pork prices in the local market.
The Costa Rican Chamber of Porculturists (Caporc) filed a complaint with the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Commission (Coprocom), arguing that "...three multinational companies make up 65% of total pork imports, and that this concentration demonstrates significant market power that undermines free competition and market transparency."
Walmart El Salvador plans to invest $19 million this year in opening five new stores and remodelling others in different areas of the country.
The multinational chain said that the five new stores that will be ready this year correspond to the formats Maxi Despensa and Despensa Familiar.Regarding this first store format, two branches will be constructed, one in Soyapango and another in San Vicente.
In the last 6 years imports have grown at an annual rate of 12%, going from $16 million in 2010 to $31 million in the first ten months of this year.
Greater sophistication in the consumption of these products, more demands than before in terms of quality and brands, are some of the reasons for increased toy imports in the country.
The supermarket chain has announced that it is preparing to open twelve new stores in 2016, including one in the Walmart format in Tegucigalpa, in which it plans to invest $12 million.
Currently the American supermarket chain Walmart operates 82 outlets in Honduras, and expects to close 2016 with at least 100 stores in four formats that it is currently operating.In the case of the larger format store, Walmart, Hernan Muntaner, vice president of Perishables and Agroindustrial Development for Walmart of Mexico and Central America, told Laprensa.hn that"... 'the project will be built in Tegucigalpa, with an estimated investment of 12 million dollars between land and construction'."
An increased supply of imported pork has caused a general price reduction and increased annual per capita consumption by two kilos.
Demand for pork in Costa Rica increased from 11 kilograms (kg) per capita in 2014 to 13 kg per capita in 2015, according to figures from the Costa Rican Chamber of Pork Producers (Caporc) cited by Nacion.com.
Negotiations are being promoted with the US chain for the installation of a distribution center for Latin America in the Colon Free Zone.
Editorial
Panama reserves supermarket operations for local companies, so there could be confusion over the news report from Prensa.com, which states that "... Through a letter signed by Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela, a group of businessmen, headed by the general manager of the Colon Free Zone (CFZ), Surse Pierpoint- are seeking to attract the attention of executives at Walmart US to install a distribution center for Latin America in Panama ", indicating the Colon Free Zone (CFZ) as 'the right place'."
Businessmen are complaining about a shortage of the grain in the market due to stricter phytosanitary measures designed to prevent the entry of beans with soil residues on them.
The National Chamber of Industrial Crops (CANINGRA) and the National Association of Bean Industrialists (ANIFRI) have separately warned that there could be supply shortages in the short term if the measure preventing the entry of products with soil residues coming into the country remains. In February and May the entry about 2,000 tons of red beans from Nicaragua was prevented for having breached this rule.
Indians preferences in consumption are starting to change as the purchasing power of the middle class grows.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
The retail market in India presents opportunities for the food trade, due to the increase in disposable income of an emerging middle class population of over one billion people, growing urbanization and higher aspirations, especially among the younger generation, who have become a conduit for the market.
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