Supermercados Econo Inc

What Supermercados Econo Inc does

Supermercados Econo, Inc. is Puerto Rico's largest supermarket chain, founded in October 1970 by Facundo Colón and Rafael Acosta and officially registered in 1971. The company operates 63 physical stores across 47 of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities, primarily under the "Supermercados ECONO" banner, with the corporate tag "Donde Mejor Se Compra." It serves individual consumers and households with groceries, fresh produce, meats, seafood, dairy, frozen foods, household provisions, wines and liquors (at select locations), and 900+ ECONO-brand private-label SKUs spanning dairy/ice cream, frozen foods, meats, deli, dry goods, baked goods, snacks, and non-edibles. The company is privately held under a partner-operator (socios) model in which individual partners run individual store locations while corporate centralizes purchasing, marketing, and distribution. Reported annual sales exceed $1.5 billion, a level the company states represents more than half of Puerto Rico's food market.

The company's technology footprint is anchored by Econo To Go, a proprietary ordering platform accessible via iOS/Android mobile apps and the econotogo.com website, supporting pickup ($3.00 fee, $25 minimum purchase) and delivery ($6.50 fee, $50 minimum purchase) at 22 participating stores and accepting a broad range of payment methods (ATH Móvil, MasterCard, Visa, Amex, Discover, PayPal, Tarjeta de la Familia, health insurance cards). A separate Mercado Econo application connects Puerto Rican farmers directly with Econo stores for fresh local produce. The 2021-completed Centro de Distribución y Servicios in Canóvanas is the largest food-industry facility in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, spanning 419,000 square feet across the largest refrigerated warehouse on the island (135,000 sq ft), a dry-goods warehouse (214,000 sq ft), and administrative offices (50,000 sq ft), and operates under ISO 22000:2018 certification from Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (approval ISO 22000 – 00039031). A $22.6 million Econo Energy hybrid power plant at the same site is being deployed (1.5 MW solar PV, 750 kW/750 kWh battery, 1.4 MW hydrogen-ready natural gas generator).

Revenue is generated primarily through in-store retail sales and supplemented by Econo To Go digital transaction fees, with marketing driven by weekly printed "shopper" circulars, digital channels (mobile app, website, email newsletter, social media reach of 600,000+), and community engagement via the Fundaciefón Gestos Positivos non-profit foundation. Capital expenditure intensity is high relative to the local market: $90 million for the Canóvanas distribution center, $22.6 million for Econo Energy (partially financed by USDA REAP, CDBG-MIT, and Banesco USA), plus the 2006 acquisition of 13 Supermercados Pueblo stores. The chain has operated continuously through external shocks including Hurricane María (September 2017) and the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining its revenue base.

Name

Supermercados Econo Inc

Legal name

Supermercados Econo, Inc.

Website

https://superecono.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Puerto Rico's largest supermarket chain, operating 63 stores across 47 municipalities. Serves individual consumers with groceries, fresh produce, 900+ private-label products, and digital pickup/delivery via Econo To Go, supported by the largest food distribution center in the Caribbean.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Carolina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. In-Store Retail Sales: Traditional supermarket retail sales through 63 physical store locations across Puerto Rico. Revenue generated from sale of groceries, fresh produce, meats, dairy, frozen foods, non-edibles, and private-label products. The company reported $1,000 million in sales in 2010 (its 40th anniversary) and over $1,500 million in 2019 and subsequent years.
2. Econo To Go Digital Orders (Pickup & Delivery): Online grocery ordering via the Econo To Go mobile app and website. The company charges $3.00 for pickup service (minimum purchase $25) and $6.50 for delivery service (minimum purchase $50). Revenue is incremental to in-store sales from the same customer base using a digital channel.
3. Private Label Product Sales (ECONO Brand): Sale of over 900 private-label products under the ECONO brand, including dairy (ice cream/popsicles with 50+ products), frozen foods, meats, seafood, deli items, dry goods/provisions, baked goods, snacks, non-edibles (cleaning supplies, pet products), and more. Private label launched in 1994.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Supermercados Econo operates a chain of 63 physical supermarket stores across 47 municipalities in Puerto Rico, selling groceries, fresh produce, meats, seafood, deli, dairy, frozen foods, baked goods, snacks, household non-edibles, wines, and liquors alongside over 900 ECONO private-label products. The company complements its physical retail with the Econo To Go digital platform (mobile app and website) enabling online ordering for in-store pickup and home delivery, plus the Mercado Econo farmer-sourcing application supporting fresh local produce from Puerto Rican farmers.

Product overview

Supermercados Econo Inc operates as a single-brand retail supermarket chain across Puerto Rico. The core offering consists of 63 physical retail supermarket locations, supplemented by the Econo To Go digital platform for online ordering with pickup and delivery. The product portfolio includes the Shopper weekly advertising circular, 7 Días de Sabor recipe program, and over 900 ECONO private label products spanning dairy, frozen foods, meats, provisions, and non-consumables. Supporting operations include the Centro de Distribución y Servicios distribution center in Canóvanas and the Fundación Gestos Positivos non-profit foundation. Recent additions include Mercado Econo (farmer direct-sourcing app) and Econo Energy (sustainability infrastructure project).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Econo To Go: Online grocery shopping platform and mobile application offering delivery and pickup services from 22 participating stores.
• Mercado Econo
• 7 Días de Sabor
• Fundación Gestos Positivos Econo
• Econo Energy

Products and services

• Supermercados Econo Retail Stores Physical supermarket locations across 47 municipalities in Puerto Rico offering groceries, fresh produce, meats, seafood, deli, dairy, frozen foods, baked goods, snacks, household non-edibles, wines, and liquors to individual consumers and households.
• Econo To Go Proprietary online grocery shopping platform accessible via iOS/Android mobile app and econotogo.com website, offering in-store pickup ($3.00 fee, $25 minimum purchase) and home delivery ($6.50 fee, $50 minimum purchase) at 22 participating Puerto Rico stores, targeting individual consumers and households.
• ECONO Private Label Products Over 900 private-label products sold under the ECONO brand across dairy/ice cream (50+ ice cream products), frozen foods, meats, seafood, deli items, dry goods/provisions, baked goods, snacks, and non-edibles (cleaning supplies, pet products), offering competitive pricing to Puerto Rican consumers across all 63 stores.
• Mercado Econo Application Application created by Supermercados Econo that connects Puerto Rican farmers directly with Econo stores, enabling the supply of fresh local produce to the retail chain and supporting local agriculture in Puerto Rico.
• Shopper Weekly Circular Weekly promotional circular published every Thursday and distributed in Puerto Rican newspapers and via the website, showcasing special offers, promotions, and product highlights for Econo store shoppers.
• Centro de Distribución y Servicios Centralized Distribution and Service Center in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, spanning 419,000 square feet and supplying all 63 Econo stores; includes the largest refrigerated warehouse in Puerto Rico, ISO 22000:2018 certified by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance for purchase and storage of food products.
• 7 Días de Sabor Recipe platform and content brand offering culinary recipes and meal planning inspiration for Econo customers across Puerto Rico.
• Econo Energy Sustainable energy infrastructure project at the Canóvanas distribution center combining solar PV, battery storage, and natural gas generation, enabling island-mode independent operation and reducing approximately 1,504 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1,500 million in annual sales (2017–2024)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Oficina de la Procuradora de las Mujeres (OPM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Supermercados Econo and the Office of the Women's Ombudsman (OPM) signed a collaboration agreement in November 2023 (November is Domestic Violence Awareness Month) to provide education and services to Econo customers and employees aimed at eradicating gender-based violence. Econo distributes OPM educational materials through its 62 stores, employees, cashiers, and shoppers, and via its social media platforms reaching over 600,000 people. OPM staff also conducts training for Econo headquarters employees and visits selected stores for direct community outreach. The initiative ran from November 24 to December 13, 2023, as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
• Puerto Rican Farmers / Mercado EconocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMercado Econo is an application created by Supermercados Econo that enables Puerto Rican farmers to sell their agricultural products directly to Econo stores. This initiative supports local agriculture and provides fresh local produce to Econo customers, launched in 2017.
• ATH Móvil, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, Tarjeta de la Familia, PayPal, Triple-S Advantage, Humana Extra, MCS Te PagacoreTechnology or IntegrationEcono To Go accepts a wide range of payment methods including ATH Móvil (Puerto Rican mobile payment), major credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover), Tarjeta de la Familia, PayPal, and health insurance cards (Triple-S Advantage, Humana Extra, MCS Te Paga) for payment processing integration.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Supermercados Xtra: Xtra is another Puerto Rico supermarket chain operating stores across the island. It competes head-to-head with Econo on price, fresh assortment, and geographic coverage, and is one of the closest comparable local players.
• Supermercados Pueblo: Pueblo is a historic Puerto Rican supermarket chain that directly competed with Econo for decades. Econo's 2006 acquisition of 13 Pueblo stores demonstrates the direct substitutability and competitive overlap between the two chains.
• Amigo Supermarkets: Amigo is one of the largest Puerto Rican supermarket chains, operating a similar multi-store grocery format across the island. It directly competes with Econo for household grocery spend and overlaps in private-label and promo-driven merchandising.

Broad incumbents

• Publix Super Markets: Publix is a US regional supermarket chain with a strong private label (GreenWise, Publix brand) and dominant regional share in the Southeast US. Useful benchmark on regional grocery dominance, store-brand investment, and employee-led service positioning.
• Walmart Puerto Rico: Walmart operates multiple supercenter stores across Puerto Rico offering groceries at scale. It is the principal broader-format competitor to Econo's supermarket chain and competes on price, assortment, and convenience in the same geographic market.
• Trader Joe's: Trader Joe's operates a curated private-label-heavy grocery format with high store productivity per square foot. Comparable in showing how a differentiated, private-label-led assortment can sustain pricing power within a competitive market.
• Albertsons Companies: Albertsons is one of the largest US grocery operators with multiple regional banners, significant private label, and an omnichannel offering. Comparable in scale of private label portfolio, multi-format operation, and supply-chain investment.
• H-E-B: H-E-B is a large US regional grocery chain known for strong private label, in-store fresh, and omnichannel investments. Comparable on private-label scale (900+ SKUs), fresh-produce investment, and grocery-led operations, though geographically focused on Texas.
• Costco Wholesale (Puerto Rico): Costco operates a warehouse club format in Puerto Rico and competes for share-of-wallet in groceries, particularly among higher-income households. Its bulk-format membership model serves as a meaningful alternative for price-sensitive shoppers.

Emerging players

• Southeastern Grocers: Southeastern Grocers operates regional supermarket banners (Winn-Dixie, Harveys) across the US Southeast. Comparable as a private/regional grocery operator investing in store remodels, private label, and digital pickup/delivery in a defined geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/supereconopr
• Facebookfacebook.com/superecono
• Instagraminstagram.com/superecono
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/supermercados-econo-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Supermercados Econo Inc