Latin America's Retail Sector Shows Lots Of Growth And Expansion In 2015 And 1Q 2016

In Latin America, retailers reported revenue growth and expansion moves, as well as their future plans, in the first quarter of 2016. Grupo Exito said growth accelerated, driven mostly by the positive economic environment in Colombia, while Carrefour said like-for-like sales rose 9.9 percent in Brazil and 23.6 percent in Argentina. PriceSmart reported net warehouse sales jumped 8.6 percent in the first quarter of 2015, with the wholesaler focusing on Colombia as a target for expansion. For many retailers, the year 2015 was largely positive, with Cencosud reporting group sales were up 2.6 percent for the year, while Soriana said revenue grew 7.4 percent, boosted by new stores.