Overview and Key Figures
According to the monthly report by the National Association of Self-Service and Department Stores (ANTAD), April 2025 marked the highest sales growth for self-service and department stores this year, surpassing their performance in April 2023.
- Same-store sales: Increased by 2.4% compared to April 2024.
- Total stores sales: Grew by 5.1% in the same period.
- January-April 2025 performance: Same-store sales rose by 0.8%, while total stores saw a 3.4% increase.
In April, total sales amounted to 125.8 billion pesos, contributing to a cumulative total of 494.3 billion pesos in the first four months of 2025.
Market Analyst Perspective
Antonio Hernández, an analyst at Actinver Casa de Bolsa, explained that after a slow start to the year, April saw a significant rebound in sales for self-service, specialty, and department stores.
However, this growth occurred against one of the lowest bases of comparison in recent years, making the observed growth easier.
“Considering seasonal sales during this second quarter, we expect May to be crucial in determining if the improvement trend continues, especially given the more challenging base of comparison ahead,” Hernández opined.
Department Stores Sales Stagnate
By store type, department stores (including Liverpool, El Palacio de Hierro, Sears, and Coppel) showed stagnation, with 0.0% growth for same-store sales and only a 1.3% increase in total stores.
Diego Cosío, CEO of ANTAD, clarified that the April 2024 department store performance was due to a calendar effect.
Several promotions, such as night sales, took place in April 2024 but moved to May 2025, affecting the interannual comparison.
“If we look at categories, self-service or grocery sales grew over 8% in April; clothing and footwear increased nearly 7%. General merchandise, which includes home appliances and durable consumer goods, grew by only 2.1% in April, possibly due to consumers being more cautious, but overall, it was a strong month for consumption,” Cosío said in a radio interview.
Performance by Store Type
Self-service stores (such as Soriana, Chedraui, and La Comer) reported the best performance, with 3.8% growth for same-store sales and 6.8% for total stores.
Specialty stores (comprising pharmacies, convenience stores, and specialized retailers) grew by 3.2% for same-store sales and 7.2% for total stores, with the latter being the segment with the highest relative growth among ANTAD-affiliated stores.
