Paraguay: multi-stores registered an improvement in sales in January 

In January, multi-stores had positive results, as well as so far in February, according to the Association of Importers and Traders of Paraguay (Asimcopar).

There is talk of a 10% improvement compared to the same period in 2022, and the association expects this to be maintained for the following months of the year.

The upturn was maintained since families had to face school purchases after the December purchases, so continuity in the movement of sales was reported.

This was mentioned to La Nación/Nación Media by Eugenio Caje, representative of Asimcopar, who commented that even their suppliers, such as micro, small, and medium-sized companies had a good month.

According to the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP), the Consumer Confidence Index (ICC) experienced a new increase in January this year.

It stood at 57.5, continuing in the optimistic zone, which aligns with the current outlook of businesses.

“This index is excellent at the moment because in January, multi-stores and our big suppliers, which are now the MSMEs, did quite well. December, January, and now February continues to look pretty good,” he said.

“In addition to this, improving the credit capacity with the effort to have competitive prices is a matter on which we have been working.”

The agreements with MSMEs have also been of great help.

“In the last two years, they have gone from having practically no presence in the multi-stores to representing between 3%0 and 45% of their suppliers,” he pointed out.

“This change has allowed small manufacturers to grow in the quantity and quality of their products,” he added.

In addition, with the business rounds launched in 2021 to promote the purchase of Paraguayan products, imported products have been replaced by small and new national manufacturers.

Caje said that much remains to be done, but these agreements allow them to have very competitive offers and prices.

For 2023, they intend to give them greater impetus to encourage the implementation of more local products in stores, and in this sense, they are creating an action plan.

He projected that, approximately in 2025, the levels would return to the solid pre-pandemic levels.

With information from America Retail

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