The retail landscape in Mexico is dominated by large supermarket chains competing for consumer preference throughout the country.
Foreign and domestic companies have established a strong presence, creating a highly competitive market in the food and staples sector.
Despite the consolidation of these large corporations, the history of the sector shows examples of family businesses that managed to grow and expand regionally, and even nationally.
The History of Casa Ley Supermarkets
Casa Ley began as a small store founded by Juan Ley Fong, a Chinese citizen, in the mining town of Tayoltita, Durango. Initially, the store supplied products to the region’s miners.
In 1950, his son, Juan Manuel Ley, took over the reins of the business at a time when supermarkets were becoming popular in Mexico. Thus, in September 1954, the first official Casa Ley branch opened. Later, in 1970, they opened their first supermarket in Culiacán, Sinaloa.
Growth and Strategic Alliances
In 1981, the American company Safeway acquired 49% of Casa Ley, allowing the chain to expand to more than 60 cities in northern Mexico.
In 2015, Casa Ley was the fourth-largest supermarket chain in Mexico, largely after its acquisition by Chedraui was ruled out. However, that same year, the company faced a crisis that forced it to close several of its branches in the north of the country. In 2016, Casa Ley acquired local chains such as Supermercados Santafé and MZ (Mercados Zaragoza), consolidating its presence in Sinaloa.
Recent Years and Legacy
In 2016, Juan Manuel Ley, who led the family business for many years, passed away at the age of 82. In 2017, most of the stores were remodeled. In the following years, Casa Ley continued to expand and celebrate its milestones. In 2019, the chain celebrated its 65th anniversary, and in 2024, its 70th. Additionally, in 2022, they launched a new format called “Fresh Market.”
Today, Casa Ley remains one of the most important supermarket chains in Mexico, with a history dating back to a small mining store in Durango.
Casa Ley Supermarket Formats
Ley: This is the chain’s main format. It faces direct competitors such as Walmart, Bodega Aurrera (owned by the same company as Walmart de México), and Soriana Híper, owned by the Soriana Organization.
Super Mayoreo Ley: This is a local store focused on wholesale sales. It doesn’t usually compete with other large store formats, but rather with small businesses and convenience stores in the area.
Ley Express/Super Ley Express: This is an “Express”-style format designed for lower-income areas, and is established in cities with low populations or lower purchasing power. Its main competitors are Bodega Aurrera, Soriana Express, and Mi Tienda del Ahorro, part of the American chain H-E-B.
Fresh Market Ley: This is a “select”-style store, aimed at a mid-market segment. It competes with establishments such as Soriana Súper, Walmart Express (formerly known as Superama), and Fresko, part of Grupo La Comer.
Chics: This was a buffet-style restaurant chain owned by Casa Ley, which began operating in 1972. It was present in two Mexican states: Sinaloa (between 1972 and 2020) and Nayarit (from 1993 to 2022). Its last branch, located in Tepic, Nayarit, closed on August 1, 2022. The location is now an auto parts store called Orma AutoParts, which later became O’Reilly AutoPartes. The Plaza Fiesta Las Palmas in Los Mochis and Plaza Fiesta Culiacán branches remain abandoned and for sale. The El Dorado branch was transformed into a Wok Express in 2007 or 2008, while the Plaza Ley Del Río branch became a pozolería called Don Pancho, although this did not last long.
Wok Express: This is a fast food and sushi chain also owned by Casa Ley. It was founded in 1999 and currently has 16 restaurants in major cities in Sinaloa, such as Culiacán, Mazatlán, Guasave, and Guamúchil.
Source: ambito
