El Puerto de Liverpool
A Mexican retail group operating department stores, discount stores, financial services, shopping centers, and related retail investments.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
El Puerto de Liverpool is a Mexican public company whose activities span commercial retail, consumer finance, logistics, and real estate. Its best-known retail banner is Liverpool, a department-store chain serving customers across Mexico with apparel, footwear, beauty products, home furnishings, appliances, electronics, and other consumer goods. The group also operates Suburbia, a more value-oriented department-store chain acquired from Walmart de México in 2016, as well as freestanding stores for selected international and domestic fashion and home brands. The company was legally established in 1944 and became publicly traded on the Mexican Stock Exchange by 1965. Over time, it developed from a department-store operator into a vertically integrated retail platform. Its commercial operations are supported by logistics infrastructure, including the Bodega Tultitlán distribution and receiving center and the Arco Norte logistics center, which was under construction according to the referenced material. The group also provides customer credit and insurance through its financial operations, linking payment and financial products to purchases made through the Liverpool and Suburbia chains. Real estate is another important part of the business. El Puerto de Liverpool owns and operates shopping centers, most of which use the Galerías name. Perisur, an early flagship property, is an exception to that naming pattern. The company’s shopping-center operations provide locations for its own stores as well as other retailers and brands, giving the group exposure to rental and commercial-property income in addition to merchandise sales. The group expanded through acquisitions and partnerships. It acquired Fábricas de Francia in 1988, purchased additional stores from Tiendas Chedraui in 1997, and bought 11 stores from the Salinas y Rocha appliance chain in 1999. It later partnered with El Corte Inglés’s Sfera brand and with Williams-Sonoma to introduce international fashion and home-furnishing concepts in Mexico. In 2016, the acquisition of Suburbia significantly broadened its addressable customer base and strengthened its presence in value-focused retail. The company subsequently reorganized the Fábricas de Francia estate, converting most locations to Liverpool or Suburbia formats and closing the remaining stores, thereby ending the banner’s use by the group. Beyond Mexico, El Puerto de Liverpool has held strategic interests in other retail businesses. The referenced material states that it held a 50 percent stake in El Salvador-based Unicomer Group, whose retail operations extend across numerous Latin American countries. It also held a minority interest in U.S. department-store company Nordstrom. In 2024, the Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool announced a plan to take Nordstrom private; the transaction was finalized in May 2025, with the Nordstrom family retaining 50.1 percent and El Puerto de Liverpool owning 49.9 percent. The company’s positioning combines department-store breadth, private-label and national-brand merchandise, customer credit, physical retail property, and shopping convenience. Liverpool generally occupies a mid-market to upper-mid-market department-store position, while Suburbia provides a more accessible format. The group’s present identity is therefore broader than that of a single retail banner: El Puerto de Liverpool is a Mexican commercial, financial, and real-estate group built around multi-format retail.
History
El Puerto de Liverpool was legally established in 1944 as a Mexican sociedad anónima de capital variable. By 1965, the company was listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange, giving it access to public capital as it developed its department-store and property businesses. Its later growth was based not only on opening retail locations but also on building distribution capacity, acquiring store networks, developing shopping centers, and adding financial services connected to retail purchases. A significant property milestone came in 1980, when the group opened Perisur, described in the reference material as its first owned shopping center and warehouse. The property became an important example of the company’s strategy of combining department-store operations with commercial real estate. In 1988, Liverpool purchased Fábricas de Francia, a department-store business with eight stores. This acquisition expanded the group’s store base and gave it another established retail banner. The company continued to invest in logistics and property during the early 1990s. In 1992, it opened Bodega Tultitlán as a second distribution and receiving center. At that time, the operation was supported by a motor-transport network of 135 trucks. The same year, the group inaugurated Galerías Coapa and Galerías Insurgentes, each associated with warehouse facilities, and established a systems development center. These moves illustrate the increasing importance of logistics, information systems, and shopping-center ownership to the retail model. In 1997, Liverpool acquired Comercial Las Galas from Tiendas Chedraui and converted those locations into Fábricas de Francia stores. Two years later, it purchased 11 stores from the Salinas y Rocha appliance chain. The acquisitions broadened the company’s physical footprint and added locations with different merchandise histories. In 2006, the legal form changed from S.A. de C.V. to S.A.B. de C.V. in connection with the requirements of Mexico’s Securities Market Law. Partnerships became an additional growth tool in the 2000s and 2010s. In 2007, Liverpool partnered with El Corte Inglés’s clothing retailer Sfera to open Sfera stores in Mexico. In 2015, it entered a 10-year partnership with Williams-Sonoma to bring Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and West Elm concepts to Mexico through stores operated by the Liverpool group. Customers could use Liverpool-related cards and financial products to purchase goods and services in the boutiques. The group made one of its most consequential retail acquisitions in August 2016, buying the Suburbia department-store chain from Walmart de México for approximately 15.7 billion Mexican pesos, according to the reference material. Suburbia gave Liverpool a stronger presence in accessible, value-oriented apparel and department-store retail. In September 2018, the company announced that 38 of 41 Fábricas de Francia locations would be converted to Liverpool or Suburbia formats, while the other three would close. This decision brought the group’s use of the approximately 140-year-old Fábricas de Francia banner to an end. In 2023, Liverpool launched Toys R Us Mexico with WHP Global. The move extended the group’s brand and category portfolio beyond its traditional department-store formats. The company also maintained broader regional and international exposure through a 50 percent interest in El Salvador-based Unicomer Group and an investment in Nordstrom. In December 2024, Liverpool’s planned increase in its Nordstrom interest was announced as part of a take-private transaction. That transaction was completed in May 2025, leaving the Nordstrom family with 50.1 percent and Liverpool with 49.9 percent. Today, El Puerto de Liverpool remains organized around Mexican retail, customer finance, logistics, shopping-center real estate, and selected international retail investments.
- 2025
Nordstrom take-private transaction completed
[1]The Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool completed the all-cash acquisition of Nordstrom, with Liverpool holding 49.9 percent.
- 2023
Toys R Us Mexico launch
[1]Liverpool launched Toys R Us Mexico in partnership with WHP Global.
- 2018
Fábricas de Francia format conversion
[1]The group announced that most Fábricas de Francia stores would become Liverpool or Suburbia locations and that the remaining stores would close.
- 2016
Suburbia acquisition
[1]Liverpool acquired Suburbia from Walmart de México for approximately 15.7 billion Mexican pesos, according to the cited reference.
- 2015
Williams-Sonoma partnership
[1]A 10-year partnership brought Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and West Elm concepts to Mexico through Liverpool-operated boutiques.
- 2007
Sfera partnership
[1]Liverpool partnered with El Corte Inglés’s Sfera clothing retailer to develop Sfera stores in Mexico.
- 2006
Corporate legal-form change
[1]The company changed from S.A. de C.V. to S.A.B. de C.V. in connection with Mexico’s securities-market requirements.
- 1999
Salinas y Rocha store acquisition
[1]The group acquired 11 stores from the Salinas y Rocha appliance chain.
- 1997
Comercial Las Galas acquisition
[1]Liverpool purchased Comercial Las Galas from Tiendas Chedraui and converted the stores into Fábricas de Francia locations.
- 1992
Distribution and shopping-center expansion
[1]The group opened Bodega Tultitlán, inaugurated Galerías Coapa and Galerías Insurgentes, and installed a systems development center.
Products and positioning
A Mexican multi-format retail group combining mid-market to upper-mid-market department stores, value-oriented discount retail, consumer finance, logistics, and shopping-center real estate.
Department stores
Liverpool
Liverpool is the group’s principal department-store banner in Mexico. Its assortment spans apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, home goods, furniture, appliances, electronics, toys, and other consumer categories. The format is supported by the group’s customer-credit and insurance operations and is positioned above the value-focused Suburbia chain.
Value-oriented department stores
Suburbia
Suburbia is a department-store chain acquired from Walmart de México in 2016. It broadens El Puerto de Liverpool’s reach into more accessible apparel and general merchandise retail and operates as a distinct format from the group’s Liverpool stores.
Shopping centers · 1992
Galerías
Galerías is the principal name used for the group’s shopping-center portfolio. These properties combine Liverpool or other anchor retail with third-party stores and commercial tenants. Perisur is a notable group-owned shopping center that does not use the Galerías name.
Financial services
Customer credit and insurance
The group’s financial operations provide credit to customers of the Liverpool and Suburbia department-store chains and offer insurance products. These services connect retail purchasing with the company’s financial platform.
Fashion retail partnership · 2007
Sfera Mexico
Through its partnership with El Corte Inglés’s Sfera, Liverpool developed Sfera stores in Mexico. The concept extended the group’s fashion offering through a dedicated international clothing brand.
Home furnishings and lifestyle retail · 2015
Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and West Elm Mexico
A 2015 partnership with Williams-Sonoma brought the Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and West Elm concepts to Mexico through Liverpool-operated boutiques. Customers could use Liverpool-associated payment products in these stores.
Toy retail · 2023
Toys R Us Mexico
Toys R Us Mexico was launched by El Puerto de Liverpool with WHP Global in 2023, adding a dedicated toy-retail concept to the group’s Mexican retail portfolio.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023Toys R Us Mexico launch
Mexico
The group launched Toys R Us Mexico with WHP Global as a dedicated toy-retail initiative.
Outcome. Extended the company’s retail presence into a specialized toy category.
- 2015Williams-Sonoma home-lifestyle expansion
Mexico
Liverpool partnered with Williams-Sonoma to bring Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and West Elm stores and merchandise concepts to Mexico.
Outcome. Added internationally recognized home and lifestyle brands to the group’s store network.
- 2007Sfera Mexico partnership
Mexico
El Puerto de Liverpool partnered with El Corte Inglés’s Sfera clothing business to introduce and operate Sfera stores in Mexico.
Outcome. Expanded the group’s fashion-retail portfolio through an international brand partnership.
Brand decisions
2024
Increase the Nordstrom investmentM&ABackground
Nordstrom was pursuing a transaction to become privately held with participation from the Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool.
Action taken
The parties announced a plan for Liverpool to increase its Nordstrom ownership to 49.9 percent.
Aftermath
The transaction was completed in May 2025, with the Nordstrom family holding 50.1 percent and Liverpool holding 49.9 percent.
2018
Retire the Fábricas de Francia bannerStrategyBackground
The group reviewed its multi-banner department-store structure after acquiring Suburbia.
Action taken
Liverpool announced the conversion of 38 of 41 Fábricas de Francia stores to Liverpool or Suburbia formats and the permanent closure of the other three.
Aftermath
The decision ended El Puerto de Liverpool’s use of the Fábricas de Francia brand.
2016
Acquire Suburbia from Walmart de MéxicoM&ABackground
The acquisition offered Liverpool a larger presence in value-oriented department-store and apparel retail.
Action taken
El Puerto de Liverpool purchased the Suburbia department-store chain from Walmart de México.
Aftermath
Suburbia became a major retail format within the group and was also used as one of the replacement formats for selected Fábricas de Francia stores.
Reported acquisition price. Approximately 15.7 billion Mexican pesos (2016)
2015
Enter a long-term Williams-Sonoma partnershipStrategyBackground
Liverpool wanted to broaden its Mexican home-furnishings and lifestyle offering with international concepts.
Action taken
The group agreed to a 10-year partnership with Williams-Sonoma covering Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and West Elm concepts.
Aftermath
The partner brands were introduced through boutiques operated by the Liverpool group in Mexico.
1988
Acquire Fábricas de FranciaM&ABackground
The group sought to expand its department-store footprint through the purchase of an established chain with eight stores.
Action taken
El Puerto de Liverpool acquired Fábricas de Francia.
Aftermath
Fábricas de Francia became an important group banner until most locations were later converted to Liverpool or Suburbia formats.
Sources1 sources
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