Author: Nelson Pereira

Daniel Esteban Novoa Co-Founder & Executive Vice President The Hispanic Retail Chamber of Commerce For many years, international expansion was viewed as a goal reserved for large corporations with substantial financial resources, complex organizational structures, and established operations across multiple countries. For most companies, especially in Latin America, entering foreign markets was considered a long-term aspiration—desirable, but not essential. Today, that reality has changed dramatically. In an economic environment defined by volatility, technological transformation, shifting consumer behavior, and increasing global competition, internationalization is no longer a strategic option—it has become a business necessity. Companies that rely exclusively on a single…

New York, USA – King Kullen has announced the appointment of Tracey Cullen as its new President and Chief Operating Officer, making her the first woman to lead the company since its founding. A fourth-generation member of the founding family, Cullen succeeds Joseph Brown, who is retiring after more than five decades of service with the company. Her appointment reinforces King Kullen’s commitment to leadership that combines family continuity, operational expertise, and strategic vision to navigate the evolving challenges of today’s retail landscape. Cullen joined the organization in 2010 and has held several leadership positions across operations, marketing, strategic planning,…

The year 2026 presents an economic and commercial landscape defined by complex technological convergence and sharp structural divergence across regions. While the global economy is experiencing moderate but inherently fragile growth , the retail sector and Hispanic markets are facing drastic transformations. From the reconfiguration of consumer habits through Artificial Intelligence (AI) to barriers in accessing capital, the business environment demands immediate strategic adaptation.Consumer Rejection of Extreme Automation: The Self-Checkout DilemmaOne of the most revealing trends in the supermarket industry is the pushback against the implementation of self-checkout lanes. Although they arrived with the promise of speeding up transactions and…

CVS Accelerates Its Transformation with New Pharmacy-Only Formats and Selective U.S. Expansion The Hispanic Retail Chamber of Commerce highlights the strategic evolution of CVS Health as a leading example of transformation in the U.S. pharmacy retail sector, driven by footprint optimization and shifting healthcare consumption patterns. CVS has announced plans to open nearly 20 small-format, pharmacy-only stores by 2026, as part of a broader initiative that includes more than 60 new locations in the near term. This expansion follows a significant network rationalization process, with approximately 1,000 store closures over the past three years, signaling a structural shift in the…

PRESS RELEASE – HRCOC Washington, DC | March 17, 2026 Washington D.C. — The Hispanic Retail Chamber of Commerce (HRCOC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Katarzyna Chys as Official Ambassador of the Hispanic Retail Chamber of Commerce and the Grand Retail Show, the premier annual gathering of Hispanic retail leaders, manufacturers, and strategic partners in the United States. This appointment reflects HRCOC’s continued commitment to expanding its global network of strategic partners and strengthening the international connections that support the growth of Hispanic retail across North America and beyond. In her role as Official Ambassador, Katarzyna Chys will…

Miami / FL — 2026 Edgardo Matiello, CCO and Co-Founder of Cooperativa INTECOOP, highlighted the work Odoo and Intecoop are developing in the technology space, specifically focused on strengthening the structural capabilities of the retail sector. “Today, retail requires much more than simply digitizing processes. It needs to integrate its entire operation under a technological architecture that allows retailers to control inventory, margins, purchasing, and data in real time. In that sense, the work Odoo and Intecoop are doing is key,” said Matiello. According to Matiello, both organizations are working in close coordination to implement comprehensive solutions that combine the…

Keys to Building Truly Scalable Retail Organizations Guillermo WashingtonCo-Founder and COO, Mi Súper MercadoVice President of Retail, The Hispanic Retail Chamber of Commerce “Growth in retail doesn’t depend only on opening more stores. It depends on building an organization capable of scaling without losing operational control or connection with the customer.”  Leadership Built from the Floor Up For more than thirty years, Guillermo Washington has built his career in the operational core of the supermarket business. His trajectory reflects a rare combination: deep knowledge of the sales floor and a strategic vision for scaling organizations. His career began…

Expanded Strategic Analysis for Retail Insider Club Members When Price Stops Being the Problem and Becomes the Excuse For years, the debate between organic and conventional products focused almost exclusively on price. In today’s supermarket retail environment, that explanation is becoming increasingly insufficient. While organic products continue to carry a higher average price than their conventional counterparts, both data and operational experience show that the real challenge is no longer just how much they cost, but how they are managed in-store. One of the main friction points for retailers is shrink in organic fruits and vegetables. Slower turnover, combined with…

HRCOC Supports Compliance with FDA’s FSMA Final Rule Washington DC — Food traceability has entered a new regulatory phase with the implementation of the Final Rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The rule establishes additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for foods included on the Food Traceability List (FTL). This regulation is designed to strengthen public health protections by requiring companies involved in the manufacturing, processing, packing, and distribution of certain foods to maintain detailed records that allow rapid identification and removal of potentially contaminated products from the U.S. market. Under the…

Leadership, Professionalization, and the Hispanic Retail Ecosystem Independent supermarkets in the United States are entering a decisive phase. Industry consolidation, inflationary pressure, evolving consumer behavior, and technological transformation are reshaping the future of grocery retail. “Voices of Retail” was created by Diario Retail as an editorial platform to examine the present and future of Hispanic retail in the U.S., highlighting leaders who are building a more professional, competitive, and sustainable ecosystem. In this edition, we feature the perspective of Julio Ibánez, President of the Hispanic Retail Chamber of Commerce, with more than three decades of experience in the industry and…