This year, Alsea plans to invest 6,000 million pesos (around 350 million dollars) to, among other things, expand its portfolio of stores and franchises by 5% to 6% globally. The operator of restaurants and coffee shops—such as Starbucks, Domino's Pizza, Burger King, and Vips—currently has 2,313 owned and franchised outlets in Mexico, in addition to 2,309 units in South America and Europe. According to its investment plan, the company expects to open between 250 and 300 establishments, which will allow it to increase its sales volume by up to 10%. Last year, the company's net income amounted to 19.9 billion pesos (about 1.2 billion dollars).

Alsea's expansion plans will have a significant impact on the commercial real estate market, not only because the global investment projected for 2024 is 27% greater than the amount invested by the company in 2023, but also because 60% of the capital will be allocated to the Mexican market, in a context where the country contributes 54% of the operator's net sales.

According to SiiLA, Alsea occupies more than 70,000 square meters in major shopping centers in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Queretaro, representing 48% of the Gross Leasable Area (GLA) used for restaurants and bars, 13% of the GLA for coffee shops, and 9% of the GLA for fast-food outlets.

It is important to note that this company tends to invest in small, medium, and large spaces, which comprise about 82% of the GLA of its portfolio in shopping centers, with average areas of 180, 500, and 820 square meters, respectively. The rest of its properties include spaces smaller than 100 square meters (14% of the GLA) and properties exceeding 1,000 square meters (4% of the GLA).

The investment in properties of various sizes reflects a commercial strategy focused on capturing different market segments. This flexibility is crucial to adapt to economic changes and consumer preferences, allowing the company to optimize its presence in high-value locations and maximize the profitability of its outlets. In this sense, Alsea's financial reports indicate that in 2023, its total sales in Mexico increased by almost 14%, reaching about 10.7 million pesos (around 627 million dollars). This growth was driven by improvements in product offerings, digital innovations, and a focus on more profitable sales formats, as well as market factors, such as an increase of almost 6% in orders and more than 16% in home deliveries.

Alsea's investment in Mexico and its global growth underscore the importance of adaptive expansion strategies in the retail sector. In particular, the decision to focus a large part of its investment in the Mexican market, where the company already has a significant presence, reaffirms its confidence in the local economy and the stability and growth of the commercial real estate market as a consumption platform.

For more information on this and other topics related to Mexico's real estate sector, explore SiiLA REsource or contact us at contacto@siila.com.mx.