PRODUCT
RESPONSIBILITY G4-PR1

Our mission is to offer our customers affordable prices and, at the same time, continuously raise the bar for quality and food safety. Our customers are increasingly interested in knowing the origin of the products bought, what they contain, and how they are produced. They expect the products to satisfy their needs and not be a risk to their health or safety.

We conduct rigorous reviews of our supply chain so as to generate and maintain the trust of our customers in the food we sell. In Mexico we have reinforced our Food Safety program, including the Prevention of Food-Related Fraud, through outside analysis by laboratories accredited in:


  1. Identifying raw materials in meat and cooking products, with a total of 465 tests conducted
  2. Verifying the integrity of Private Label product ingredients, such as honey, milk, olive oil, 100% natural juices, and coffee; with a total of 40 tests conducted
  3. Validating certificates for products sold as organic, accrediting a total of 380 products

A total of 87% of our Private Label suppliers are certified in norms acknowledged by the GFSI -Global Food Safety Initiative- a worldwide accepted food safety management system. Some 180 businesses in Mexico currently have the H Certificate awarded by the Secretary of Tourism to those establishments that accredit compliance with good practices in food preparation and serving hygiene.

Labeling G4-PR3

Our customers need accurate information regarding the impact of products and services so as to make fundamental decisions regarding purchases and so product availability reflects their preferences. Providing information and proper labeling regarding impact is our responsibility.

Private label information in Mexico undergoes review and validation by Legal and Corporate Quality. During 2015, some 1,424 labels were analyzed, of which 540 were for medical products and 884 for food items and general merchandise, validating the following:


  1. The origin of product or service components
  2. Content, especially pertaining to substances that can cause environmental or social impacts
  3. Product or service safety instructions
  4. Product elimination and environmental or social impact

In Central America we provided continuity regarding monitoring, advice, and training in labeling requirements by product category and by country, including Private Labels. The training and certification process for champions in labeling was initiated to provide support for review and validation in 2016. We created labeling guidelines for easy identification and use.

Commercial agreements executed with suppliers include the obligation of complying with all regulations. Moreover, Corporate Quality randomly checks Private Label products in the distribution centers, to validate labeling information.


Regarding non-compliance with regulations governing marketing communication and advertising, in Mexico there were 35 issues stemming from the lack of information in advertising materials, which were rectified immediately. When necessary, evidence was filed with the Mexican Consumer Protection Agency -Profeco- in addition to paying a total of 57 fines concerning advertising in general. There were no cases reported in Central America. Compliance continuously trains key areas and sends communiques to stores to remind them of the comparative advertising guidelines, among others. G4-PR7

In 2015, we received no significant fines due to non- compliance with regulations governing the supply and use of products and services in the region. G4-PR9

In neither Mexico nor Central America do we sell forbidden products, or those pending litigation. Pursuant to requirements set forth by the OFAC -Office of Foreign Assets Control- in Central America we declare the marketing of any product originating from any of the countries included in the sanction lists. Training in these matters took place in 2015 for the Commercial and Agroindustrial Development areas. Random reviews were made of store products to validate places of origin.
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