Carulla
Encyclopedia
Carulla is a Colombia
n supermarket
chain headquartered in Bogotá
, Colombia. It was founded in 1905, and now is one of the largest supermarket company in the country. Founded originally in the city of Barranquilla
, it soon moved most of its operations and headquarters to Bogota
.
Carulla has associated its brand with quality products, specializing in fruits and vegetables, although it offers most of the product categories offered in any other supermarket chain. It currently consider its destination categories to be fruits and vegetables, meats, spirits and liquors, and bakery products.
In 2000 it merged with Almacenes Vivero supermarket chain based in Barranquilla, its then-rival which was most prevalent on the Atlantic coast. The merger formed Carulla Vivero S.A. and became the second largest retail chain in Colombia
As of 2006, the Carulla Vivero operated 156 stores; 83 of operated under the Carulla brand.
As of 2006 Carulla Vivero was acquired by Almacenes Exito
the largest supermarket company in Colombia
and owned by French retailer Groupe Casino
.
The Carulla brand will continue to exist after the merger since it has over 100 years of history and holds a strong market participation in Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, and Barranquilla. The brand's motto is "Carulla, an every day pleasure".
Carulla was also the first retailer in Colombia to use a loyalty card which currently has about 250,000 members, called the Supercliente Card. The top 45,000 customers have the Diamond Superliente Card as they represent about 65% of the company's profits.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
chain headquartered in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia. It was founded in 1905, and now is one of the largest supermarket company in the country. Founded originally in the city of Barranquilla
Barranquilla
Barranquilla is an industrial port city and municipality located in northern Colombia, near the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region with a population of 1,148,506 as of 2005, which makes it Colombia's...
, it soon moved most of its operations and headquarters to Bogota
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
.
Carulla has associated its brand with quality products, specializing in fruits and vegetables, although it offers most of the product categories offered in any other supermarket chain. It currently consider its destination categories to be fruits and vegetables, meats, spirits and liquors, and bakery products.
In 2000 it merged with Almacenes Vivero supermarket chain based in Barranquilla, its then-rival which was most prevalent on the Atlantic coast. The merger formed Carulla Vivero S.A. and became the second largest retail chain in Colombia
As of 2006, the Carulla Vivero operated 156 stores; 83 of operated under the Carulla brand.
As of 2006 Carulla Vivero was acquired by Almacenes Exito
Almacenes Exito
Grupo Exito also known as Almacenes Exito S.A. is a leading Colombian retailer that directly operates 262 stores and others indirectly that offer a wide range of food and non food products...
the largest supermarket company in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and owned by French retailer Groupe Casino
Groupe Casino
Groupe Casino is a large French multinational corporation, formerly part of the CAC 40 index, whose main business is with retail and distribution in hyper and supermarkets. The company's head office is in Saint-Étienne....
.
The Carulla brand will continue to exist after the merger since it has over 100 years of history and holds a strong market participation in Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, and Barranquilla. The brand's motto is "Carulla, an every day pleasure".
Carulla was also the first retailer in Colombia to use a loyalty card which currently has about 250,000 members, called the Supercliente Card. The top 45,000 customers have the Diamond Superliente Card as they represent about 65% of the company's profits.