Number of locations 199 (2008) | Founder Angel Lozada Ramirez Founded 1962, Mexico City, Mexico Defunct 2008 | |
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Key people Angel Lozada (CEO, 2008) Services Grocery, bakery, clothing, footwear, home supplies, office supplies, hygiene and personal products, appliances, electronics, music, car supplies, pharmacy, and toys | ||
Supermercados Gigante was a large supermarket chain in Mexico. The chain expanded north of the border as well, as it also had locations in predominantly working-class Mexican-American communities of the United States.
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The supermarket chain was owned by parent company Group Gigante, which also operates the restaurant chain Toks, and US retail chains such as RadioShack and Office Depot in Mexico.
Supermercados Gigante competed with several other chains, such as Soriana, Comercial Mexicana, Chedraui, Wal-Mart H-E-B, Falabella, Cencosud and D&S. It was not uncommon to see Wal-Mart receipts around the store touting the fact that said items are cheaper at Supermercados Gigante.
Supermercados Gigante in pop culture
The chain appeared on the Ahí Viene Verónica film, and on miscellaneous TV Azteca shows.
Store closures
On February 28, 2006 Gigante closed some stores in Mexico (1 in Torreon, 7 in Monterrey, 1 in Matamoros, 2 in San Luis Potosí and 1 in Puebla).
Sale of Gigante
As of Dec. 6, 2007 Supermercados Gigante was acquired by Organizacion Soriana for US$1.35 billion. The supermarket and hypermarket retail formats of Supermercados Gigante, including its seven US stores, will disappear and the stores will adopt the Soriana Brand. Grupo Gigante will remain in business as a company separate from Soriana, operating Mexican Radio Shack and Office Depot locations, as well as the Toks restaurant chain.