Oxxo stores belong to FEMSA. Photo: Femsa.

After this week, the company Mexican Economic Development (FEMSA) announced the sale of its stake in Heinekennow it’s been revealed that he plans to take the stores oxxowhich it owns, United States (United States), In addition to considering expanding its store model without checkouts and with artificial intelligence, assured the general manager of the company Daniel Rodríguez Cofré.

According to the director, as part of Mexican Republic.

Rodríguez Cofre pointed out that, only in Mexico, they continue to see many opportunities for the growth of oxxothey therefore think they can continue with growth rates between 800 and one thousand units per year.

“Disinvestment in Heineken This will give you resources, but it will also free you from regulatory constraints on your intentions to boost retail in the retail market. UNITED STATES“, underlined Rodríguez Cofre.

FEMSA does not rule out opening more Smart stores.  REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/File Photo
FEMSA does not rule out opening more Smart stores. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril/File Photo

In addition, the manager explained that they will operate other formats, such as stores Cleverwhich works according to a model of artificial intelligence that allows you to automatically recharge people at the exit of the store, like that of the Tec de Monterrey, in Nuevo León.

Rodríguez Cofre also did not rule out the possibility of opening a new store smart oxxo, as well as new formats, such as Bara or Prontobecause they see opportunities to continue to grow in Mexico as well, and then complement that with the other formats “that we’re developing,” he mentioned.

According to the director, increasing the presence of oxxo in the Mexican market, goes hand in hand with growth Latin America, explore a greater presence in Brazilin order to consolidate local activity.

Currently the company has 30,000 units of its retail divisionwith an income of about $19 billion. Of the total number of stores, 73% are in the Mexican Republic and encompasses the Oxoxogas stations, Bara and Pronto.

Oxxo stores do not only operate in Mexico, as they already do in South America.  REUTERS/Daniel Becerril
Oxxo stores do not only operate in Mexico, as they already do in South America. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

While 14% belong to their division Health in Mexico and Latin America9% to their local businesses in Europe with the recent acquisition rateand 4% of its local business in South America.

With its new business plan, it expects that of all its units, Mexico will represent 71% in stores and 69% in turnover, the health part 12% in units and 17% in turnover. Europe 6% of units and 4% of turnover.

You have to remember FEMSA acquired rate in 2022, a company with which she seeks growth in Europe. In this regard, Rodríguez Cofre underlined on this occasion that there are good opportunities in terms of organic growth in the markets in which the Swiss company currently operates, it will most likely continue to grow organicallyalthough if there is the possibility of making another purchase, I would.

If there are good opportunities in the current market in terms of non-organic acquisition, we will consider them.. And on top of that, I mean, if there are also good opportunities in other markets in Europe, we will also consider them,” the FEMSA leader said on the occasion.

In 2022, FEMSA acquired Valora.  REUTERS/Tomas Bravo
In 2022, FEMSA acquired Valora. REUTERS/Tomas Bravo

It was also revealed that around this time they preferred the old continent to the USA, because although the United States is a neighboring market, in the evaluation of the projects they found certain challenges, among which the fact that the The activity of convenience stores is closely linked to service stations.

And it is that, it was explained, future business represents certain uncertainties and certain risks due to the adoption of electric car, and it is expected that there will be a contraction in the consumption of this type of fossil fuel in the medium and long term.

On the other hand, they began to understand Europe and when they found Valorathey noted that it met almost all the criteria they were looking for, namely very low exposure to fuels, it is a platform multi-country, multi-formatwith a very relevant activity in Switzerland and Germany and with sales of more than 2 billion Swiss francs.

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