D1, Ara, and Ísimo are Everywhere: They Will Surpass 4,700 Stores This 2026
In the Colombian retail business, there's a before and after since 2009, when the first D1 store opened under the hard discount model. Until then, retail sales were concentrated on traditional, well-positioned brands. The arrival of this format transformed commercial dynamics and redefined the purchasing habits of millions of households.
TL;DR
- D1, Tiendas Ara, and Ísimo will surpass 4,700 stores in Colombia by 2026.
- The hard discount format, pioneered by D1 in 2009, has redefined consumer habits and commercial dynamics.
- D1 leads in coverage with 2,745 stores, followed by Ara with 1,653, and Ísimo with 305.
- These chains are expanding into strategic municipalities and cities, with Ísimo and Ara planning significant openings in 2026.
- Tiendas Ara's parent company, Jerónimo Martins, reported significant sales growth in Colombia for 2025.
- Hard discount stores now represent 20.4% of retail sales in Colombia, appealing to a population sensitive to price.
- Private labels are crucial, accounting for 40% to 80% of sales in these chains.
- The presence of these stores has been linked to increased employment rates in municipalities.
- Hard discount chains act as catalysts for economic activity, job creation, and commercial formalization in local economies.