Éxito
A Colombian supermarket and hypermarket chain operated under the Éxito retail banner.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Éxito is a Colombian supermarket and hypermarket brand operated within Grupo Éxito and headquartered in Medellín. Its origins date to 26 March 1949, when businessman Gustavo Toro Quintero opened the first Almacenes Éxito store in central Medellín. The original business concentrated on textile clothing and related merchandise rather than functioning as a full-scale supermarket. Over time, the company developed into one of Colombia’s largest retail organizations, combining food retail with consumer goods and broader commercial services. The company’s growth has included both organic development and consolidation within Colombia’s retail sector. In 1994, Éxito began opening its share capital to the Bogotá, Medellín, and Western stock exchanges. In 1998, it launched an Éxito virtual store in partnership with NormaNet, making it an early participant in Colombian online commerce. In 2001, the company merged with Cadenalco. That transaction was associated with the disappearance of the Almacenes Super Ley name and the subsequent acquisition of Almacenes Ley. Éxito later began absorbing the Ley stores, a process reported as completed in 2012. The company also broadened its business model beyond conventional store retail. In 2005, Grupo Éxito entered the property business and introduced Tarjeta Éxito through an alliance with Tuya, adding a financial-services component to the retail proposition. In 2013, it created Móvil Éxito, a mobile telecommunications service supported by Tigo Colombia’s infrastructure. These initiatives illustrate the brand’s development into a multi-category retail ecosystem rather than a chain limited to grocery sales. By 2010, Groupe Casino held 67 percent of Almacenes Éxito, reflecting the company’s connection to a larger international retail group during that period. The chain continued to modernize its store formats, including the creation of the Éxito WOW concept in 2018. Éxito WOW was presented as a modern, technology-oriented hypermarket format intended to update the traditional large-store experience. In 2022, Almacenes Éxito took over stores formerly operated by Almacenes La 14 in Palmira, Cartago, Jamundí, and Buenaventura in Valle del Cauca, as well as a store in Girardot, Cundinamarca. The chain has been described as operating approximately 390 stores across 175 Colombian municipalities, with Bogotá having the largest number of locations. Its offer centers on groceries and everyday consumer goods, supported by large-format hypermarkets, supermarket locations, digital commerce, private-label activity, financial services, and related retail services. The brand’s social platform, Fundación Éxito, founded in 1993, initially worked across education, social conditions, and civic and cultural matters; its later focus has been children’s nutrition.
History
Almacenes Éxito began in Medellín on 26 March 1949, when Gustavo Toro Quintero opened a store in the city center. The original operation focused on textile clothing and related merchandise. The business subsequently expanded its assortment and retail footprint, becoming a major Colombian chain under the Éxito name. A significant institutional step occurred in 1993 with the establishment of Fundación Éxito. The foundation initially supported education, social conditions, and civic and cultural initiatives. Its later work became more concentrated on children’s nutrition, giving the Éxito organization a social-impact platform alongside its commercial activities. In 1994, the company began opening its share capital to the Bogotá, Medellín, and Western stock exchanges. Four years later, it entered online retail through an Éxito virtual store created in association with NormaNet. This made the company an early participant in Colombian electronic commerce and extended the brand beyond physical stores. The company’s consolidation phase continued in 2001, when it merged with Cadenalco. The transaction was linked to the disappearance of the Almacenes Super Ley name and the acquisition of Almacenes Ley. Éxito later undertook the absorption of Ley stores, with that process reported as completed in 2012. In 2005, Grupo Éxito diversified into property and launched Tarjeta Éxito through an alliance with Tuya. In 2013, it added Móvil Éxito, a mobile service using infrastructure provided by Tigo Colombia. International ownership became an important part of the company’s history. By 2010, Groupe Casino owned 67 percent of Almacenes Éxito. The retail business nevertheless continued developing its Colombian store network and formats. In 2018, it introduced Éxito WOW, a modern hypermarket concept intended to refresh the large-store model. The company expanded through another retail transaction in 2022, taking over selected stores formerly associated with Almacenes La 14. The affected locations included stores in Palmira, Cartago, Jamundí, and Buenaventura in Valle del Cauca, together with a store in Girardot in the department of Cundinamarca. Éxito is described as having approximately 390 stores in 175 Colombian municipalities, with Bogotá containing the largest concentration. The brand’s current identity is therefore the result of several layers of development: a Medellín clothing retailer became a national supermarket and hypermarket chain; the company added digital commerce, private-label and consumer-goods retail, financial services, mobile telecommunications, property activities, and newer store concepts; and the wider organization retained a social role through Fundación Éxito. The available reference material does not establish a separate current ownership structure, executive roster, or present corporate listing status.
- 2022
Selected Almacenes La 14 stores are taken over
[1]Éxito took over stores in Palmira, Cartago, Jamundí, Buenaventura, and Girardot.
- 2018
Éxito WOW format is introduced
[1]The company created Éxito WOW, a modern and technology-oriented hypermarket format.
- 2013
Móvil Éxito is launched
[1]Éxito created Móvil Éxito, a telecommunications service supported by Tigo Colombia’s infrastructure.
- 2012
Absorption of Almacenes Ley is completed
[1]The company’s process of absorbing Almacenes Ley stores was reported as completed.
- 2010
Groupe Casino holds a majority stake
[1]Groupe Casino was reported to own 67 percent of Almacenes Éxito.
- 2005
Expansion into property and retail finance
[1]Grupo Éxito entered the property business and created Tarjeta Éxito through an alliance with Tuya.
- 2001
Merger with Cadenalco
[1]Éxito merged with Cadenalco. The transaction was associated with the disappearance of the Almacenes Super Ley name and the acquisition of Almacenes Ley.
- 1998
Éxito enters online commerce
[1]The company created an Éxito virtual store in association with NormaNet, positioning it as an early Colombian online retailer.
- 1994
Share capital begins opening to Colombian exchanges
[1]Éxito began opening its share capital to the Bogotá, Medellín, and Western stock exchanges.
- 1993
Fundación Éxito is established
[1]The company created Fundación Éxito to support education, social conditions, and civic and cultural initiatives. Its later emphasis became children’s nutrition.
Products and positioning
A broad-format Colombian mass-market retailer combining supermarkets, hypermarkets, online shopping, consumer merchandise, and adjacent financial and telecommunications services.
Food retail · 1949
Éxito supermarkets and hypermarkets
The core Éxito format sells groceries, fresh food, household necessities, personal-care items, clothing, electronics, and other everyday consumer goods. Its network includes conventional supermarkets and larger hypermarkets serving broad household shopping missions. The chain has been described as operating approximately 390 stores across 175 Colombian municipalities, with Bogotá representing its largest concentration of locations.
Hypermarket format · 2018
Éxito WOW
Éxito WOW is a modernized hypermarket concept introduced in 2018. The format was designed to update the traditional large-store experience through a more contemporary, technology-oriented retail environment. It represents the brand’s effort to adapt its physical stores while retaining the broad assortment associated with a hypermarket.
E-commerce · 1998
Éxito virtual store
The Éxito virtual store was created in 1998 in association with NormaNet. It extended the brand’s retail offer into online commerce and was described as a pioneering Colombian electronic-trading initiative. The available reference does not provide current platform details or a separate present-day operating status.
Retail financial services · 2005
Tarjeta Éxito
Tarjeta Éxito was introduced in 2005 through an alliance with Tuya. It added a branded financial-services component to the Éxito retail ecosystem, linking the customer relationship to the chain’s shopping proposition. The available reference material does not specify current product terms, fees, or eligibility.
Mobile telecommunications · 2013
Móvil Éxito
Móvil Éxito was created in 2013 as a mobile telecommunications service supported by Tigo Colombia’s infrastructure. The initiative extended the Éxito name into communications and demonstrated the group’s broader strategy of adding services adjacent to retail. The available reference material does not establish its current availability or operating model.
Brand decisions
2022
Takeover of selected Almacenes La 14 storesM&ABackground
Éxito expanded its physical presence through stores formerly operated by Almacenes La 14.
Action taken
The company took over stores in Palmira, Cartago, Jamundí, Buenaventura, and Girardot.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Éxito’s presence in Valle del Cauca and Cundinamarca.
2018
Introduction of the Éxito WOW hypermarket formatGeneration changeBackground
The company sought to modernize the large-format retail experience.
Action taken
Éxito created the Éxito WOW concept, described as a modern and technology-oriented hypermarket.
Aftermath
The format became part of the brand’s store-format portfolio.
2001
Merger with Cadenalco and acquisition of Almacenes LeyM&ABackground
Éxito was consolidating its position in Colombia’s retail sector and expanding beyond its existing store base.
Action taken
The company merged with Cadenalco, after which the Almacenes Super Ley name disappeared and Almacenes Ley was acquired.
Aftermath
Éxito subsequently undertook the absorption of Almacenes Ley stores, a process reported as completed in 2012.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/éxito · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled