National Supermarket Association opens New England branch

The National Supermarket Association, a trade association representing over 700 independently owned supermarkets, will open headquarters in downtown Providence, Rhode Island for its newly established New England chapter. The NSA is making its investment in Providence without any economic or tax incentives from the state or city.

Founded in 1989, the National Supermarket Association is a trade association representing the interests of independent grocery stores across the East Coast. Today’s announcement caps over eighteen months of discussions between Lieutenant Governor Matos and NSA leadership, during which the Lieutenant Governor has advocated for the selection of Rhode Island for NSA’s headquarters based on the state’s central location, competitive business costs, and rich talent pool. 

Through membership with the NSA, grocery stores can access exclusive vendor programs, receive technical assistance, benefit from proactive and reduced-rate food safety inspections, and participate in other programs meant to reduce supply and administrative costs and keep their products affordable. Over 700 grocery stores from Massachusetts to Florida are already members of the NSA. Independent grocery stores create 3,000 jobs and over $420 million in annual sales in Rhode Island, and over $15 billion in annual sales across New England. 

The NSA specializes in opening grocery stores in communities and neighborhoods which are underserved by traditional grocery chains. In Rhode Island, over one in four census tracts are designated as low income and low access to fresh food, and nearly half of all Rhode Islanders of color live in one of these neighborhoods. As part of its work in the region, the NSA will seek opportunities to eliminate food deserts by bringing locally owned grocery stores with affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant food to these underserved areas.

National Supermarket Association Announces the selection of Seny Taveras J.D. as their new Executive Director

New York Tech and National Supermarket Association Team Up to Support Access to Education

New York Institute of Technology and the National Supermarket Association (NSA), a trade association representing more than 200 members who own 400 supermarkets in New York and other cities throughout the East coast, Mid-Atlantic region, and Florida, are teaming up to help provide access to education to NSA members, their employees, and their families. 

The related missions of the two organizations provide a strong foundation for this collaboration. The NSA, founded in 1989 by Hispanic entrepreneurs, is committed to supporting education for its members’ approximately 20,000 employees and their families. For more than 60 years, New York Tech has been guided by its mission to provide all qualified students access to opportunity to receive a career-oriented professional education and is recognized for the diversity and social mobility of its student body. 

Beginning with the spring 2023 semester, NSA will promote information about New York Tech undergraduate programs to its members, their employees, and their families. New York Tech’s School of Management M.B.A. programs will also be promoted in this relationship. Accepted students are eligible for scholarships; NSA scholarships will cover at least 25 percent of related students’ full-time tuition.

“As we work to develop new channels and opportunities to provide access to education, New York Tech is committed to actively engaging with employers such as NSA to create pathways for traditional and nontraditional students seeking a college education,” said Jerry Balentine, D.O., provost and executive vice president at New York Tech. “This partnership model is one we hope to emulate with additional employers, and we applaud NSA for advocating for education among its members and their employees.”

“Our entrepreneurial drive led us to open supermarkets a few decades ago in what had been economically depressed, primarily minority neighborhoods. Today, this same vision that strengthened and enhanced our communities extends in many ways, including our dedication to helping people earn a college degree. We believe that our community members interested in pursuing higher education will find a place for themselves at New York Tech,” said Samuel Collado, NSA president.

The two organizations will also work together to provide internship, experiential learning, and other career-related opportunities. For example, NSA will be invited to New York Tech career fairs and related events, and NSA members will consider qualified New York Tech candidates for internships and job opportunities. The two will also collaborate on fundraising efforts in support of student scholarships, and NSA will encourage its members to support New York Tech’s Grizzly Cupboard food pantries, part of the Bear Bytes initiative, which provides students with food as well as health and wellness resources and information.

“A deep relationship between an organization such as NSA and New York Tech in multiple areas, including access to academic programs for NSA employees, internships and career opportunities for New York Tech students, and professional development and employee training for the supermarket owners, provides tremendous benefits to both organizations,” said Rajendra Tibrewala, professor of operations and supply chain management in the School of Management, who spearheaded the effort to develop the university’s relationship with NSA. 

ANNOUNCING THE COLLECTIVE ACTION TO PROTECT OUR STORES” COALITION

For Immediate Release 
Date: January 9, 2023

ANNOUNCING THE COLLECTIVE ACTION TO PROTECT OUR STORES” COALITION

Led By National Supermarket Association, Initial Members Are The Bodega and Small Business Group, and the Metro Supermarket Association

 Coalition Will Call Attention and Demand Changes to Protect Retail from Rising Theft

NEW YORK -  With supermarkets, bodegas, grocery stores and other retail suffering under an INCREASE IN GRAND LARCENY, a coalition called Collective Action to Protect our Stores (CAPS) has come together to demand changes and accountability so workers and consumers are safe when shopping. The coalition is led by the independent supermarkets of the National Super Market Association and the founding members are the National Supermarket Association, the Bodega and Small Business Group, and the Metro Supermarket Association. The coalition announced itself in a letter to Gov. Hochul, Mayor Adams, and state and city legislative leaders and members. 

As the letter says: “New Yorkers expect and deserve to feel safe when they shop– but right now, for too many, they simply do not. This impacts the stores that lose money, workers who are harmed, and consumers who are worried about feeling safe to shop. This is an entirely untenable situation, and something must be done to rectify it before more stores close or workers are harmed.  As you set forth your visions in the State of the State and State of the City, we urge you to take these recommendations under consideration. We expect more organizations and companies to join us in the weeks and months ahead.” 

The coalitions asks are:

NYPD AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY UNITS: Dedicated NYPD Unit and DA Units for retail theft.

HARM ON HARM: Call on prosecutors to use harm on harm to request bail for repeat theft offenders, and we call on judges to use this tool (harm on harm) to set bail.

SUPPORT FOR KEY LEGISLATION:

Raise assaults on retail employees and owners to a class D felony. 

Call for legislation to combine charges to upcharge theft (from petit larceny to grand larceny).

Support Albany legislation to create a new offense of fostering the sale of stolen goods and make it a class A misdemeanor.

PSA CAMPAIGN: New York City should launch and run a public service announcement (PSA) campaign against shoplifting.

ACCOUNTABILITY: No more finger-pointing.  We must hold every level of the criminal justice system accountable for doing their part to tackle this issue, including NYPD, DAs, Judges and elected officials.

The full text of the letter is below

Collective Action to Protect our Stores


Governor Kathy Hochul

Mayor Eric Adams 

Speaker Carl Heastie

Leader Stewart-Cousins

Speaker Adrienne Adams 

Acting Chief Judge Anthony Cannataro

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz

Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon

To New York’s Leaders:

New York City’s independent supermarkets, bodegas, and grocers are the backbones of our communities. We employ thousands of New Yorkers, and every day we provide New Yorkers with access to fresh produce, necessary home goods like diapers and formula, and other items families need.

We take our responsibility seriously.  During the height of the pandemic, we were essential workers who risked our lives to keep this city alive. We lost people in those early days of Covid, but we are proud of our work. Beyond Covid, when the big stores pulled out of New York City in the 70’s and ’80s, we were the ones who stepped in to make sure these communities were not without access to food. We also look like the communities we serve. We are people of color and immigrants from all over the world. We love our communities because we are our communities. 

However, we are in trouble. A rise in larceny cases has hit independent supermarkets hard. Indeed, some have hired private security. Some robberies have been as high as $72,000. We have been assaulted, terrorized, and our physical and mental health jeopardized. 

That is why we are writing you today to announce the formation of the Collective Action to Protect our Stores (CAPS), initially made up of:

 
National Supermarket Association

Bodega and Small Business Group 

Metro Supermarket Association 

THE GOALS OF OUR COALITION ARE SIMPLE.

NYPD AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY UNITS: Dedicated NYPD Unit and DA Units for retail theft.

HARM ON HARM: Call on prosecutors to use harm on harm to request bail for repeat theft offenders, and we call on judges to use this tool (harm on harm) to set bail.

SUPPORT FOR KEY LEGISLATION:

Raise assaults on retail employees and owners to a class D felony. 

Call for legislation to combine charges to upcharge theft (from petit larceny to grand larceny).

Support Albany legislation to create a new offense of fostering the sale of stolen goods and make it a class A misdemeanor.

PSA CAMPAIGN: New York City should launch and run a public service announcement (PSA) campaign against shoplifting.

ACCOUNTABILITY: No more finger-pointing.  We must hold every level of the criminal justice system accountable for doing their part to tackle this issue, including NYPD, DAs, Judges and elected officials.

New Yorkers expect and deserve to feel safe when they shop– but right now, for too many, they simply do not. This impacts the stores that lose money, workers who are harmed, and consumers who are worried about feeling safe to shop. This is an entirely untenable situation, and something must be done to rectify it before more stores close or workers are harmed. 

As you set forth your visions in the State of the State and State of the City, we urge you to take these recommendations under consideration. We expect more organizations and companies to join us in the weeks and months ahead. As New York’s political leaders, we look forward to working with you to make our communities safer and ensure our stores and customers feel comfortable coming to work and entering our stores. 

Signed:

National Supermarket Association

Bodega and Small Business Group 

Metro Supermarket Association 

CC:

Members of the Senate 

Members of the Assembly

Members of the New York City Council

###

The National Supermarket Association (NSA) Celebrated its 33rd Anniversary with a Breaking Barriers Theme, Highlighting Member of the Year Company of the Year

The National Supermarket Association (NSA) Celebrated its 33rd Anniversary with a Breaking Barriers Theme, Highlighting Member of the Year Anthony Pena and Company of the Year Cibao Meat Products

Foxwoods Resorts Casino, CT – On Saturday, December 3, the National Supermarket Association hosted its Annual Gala, celebrating 33 years of operations and breaking barriers.   The Annual Gala was a tremendous success; it was attended by nearly 1,000 NSA members, industry leaders, corporate supporters, politicians, and community leaders. 

Every year the National Supermarket Association recognizes one of its members with the NSA Eligio Peña Member of the Year Award. This year the award was given to Anthony Peña, who demonstrated a significant commitment to the Association and a passion for helping others. Anthony Pena chaired the NSA trade show host committee and organized one of the most successful events.  

The Company of the Year Award was given to Cibao Meat Products, a longtime partner of the Association who has delivered excellent customer service and has a passion for giving back to our communities. Cibao Meat Products has set itself apart as a leader in the industry by providing high-quality meats for over 50 years.  

The NSA also announced the partnership with Goya Cares, a global initiative to combat human trafficking.  NSA Cares raised $10,000 during the gala through guest donations, which was then matched by Goya, NSA, and Cibao Meat Products 

“It is an honor and a privilege to serve as President of the National Supermarket Association,” said the President of the National Supermarket Association, Samuel Collado. “I am thankful to our members who inspire me daily and our supporters - without them, we would not be where we are today.”

“Seeing the industry come together to celebrate the hard work of the association and the members that make up the association is extraordinary,” said Nallely de Jesus, Vice President and Chair of the gala committee. “Every year, the NSA family grows stronger and wider, and we look forward to continuing that growth into the next generation and beyond.” 

The National Supermarket Association Hosted First Women’s Forum with Industry Leaders and Government Representatives

New York, NY – The National Supermarket Association (NSA) is hosted their very first Women’s Forum on June 8th, 2022 at the TWA Hotel, from 8:30AM-4:00PM.  Women have been an integral part of the NSA’s growth. This event marks the culmination of cultivating an environment where women are recognized for their achievements. The pattern of women not receiving the proper credit for their work as leading entrepreneurs must be broken. NSA is dedicated to rebalancing a male dominated industry and shifting the scale to greater representation for women in leadership positions. This event marks the first gathering to recognize women continuing to pave the way in the industry.  NSA will be recognizing:

Industry Leader Honorees:

Zulema Wiscovitch, Co-President and Co-CEO at Associated Supermarket Group

Mayra Linares, Vice-President of Public Affairs and Communications for Liberty Coke

Generational Leaders Honorees:

Ursula Pena, Co-Founder of the NSA

Sixta Bueno, Owner-Operator and NSA Member

Iris Benzan-Diaz, Owner-Operator and NSA Member

Together with a special guest speaker Lindsay Greene, first female CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. 

CRIME PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, COMMON GOALS FOR NSA AND NYPD COMMISSIONER

Leaders of the National Supermarket Association (NSA) met with New York Police (NYPD) Commissioner Dermont Shea in recent days to seek solutions to the recent wave of robberies against its members’ grocery stores and to work on programs to help the community.

NSA President William Rodriguez, accompanied by members of the Board of Directors of the association that represents more than 400 independent supermarkets in New York and other cities on the East Coast, had the opportunity to dialogue with Commissioner Shea on issues of mutual interest.

According to a press release from the NSA, the meeting was also attended by the Chief of Patrol Bureau, Fausto Pichardo, who is the first Dominican-American to reach this position.

NSA leaders discussed with Commissioner Shea priority issues for the association, such as finding solutions to reduce the recent crime wave in their members’ stores.

“We had a very productive conversation that took place over the course of an hour in which we discussed high-level priorities, such as the recent increase in crime at our members’ stores, opportunities for partnership in our mutual efforts to reach out to youth, and ways we can work together to keep our communities safe,” said Rodriguez.

The National Supermarket Association expressed its support for the NYPD and its leadership personally thanked Commissioner Shea for the work of his officers during the pandemic and their tireless efforts to help keep neighborhoods safe. “NYC has been the safest big city in the world for a while and will continue to be so with the efforts of the NYPD,” the statement said.

“This meeting was a great first step in establishing a more formal relationship between NSA and NYPD. We look forward to working together now and in the future,” the NSA leadership said.

Governor Cuomo Announces Partnership With Walmart, Wegmans, the National Supermarket Association and the Community Service Society to Feed Over 35,000 New Yorkers this Thanksgiving

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State is partnering with Walmart, Wegmans, the National Supermarket Association and the Community Service Society of New York this Thanksgiving Week to help deliver meals to feed more than 35,000 people statewide.

"Thanksgiving is an opportunity not just to reflect on our values of gratitude and service to others but also to act on those values," Governor Cuomo said. "This partnership will provide thousands of families across the state with a warm meal to enjoy. I encourage every New Yorker to take time today to reflect and find a way that they can give back this week and throughout the holiday season."

"Thanksgiving is about more than being thankful, it is about acting on it by helping those less fortunate," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "This partnership with Walmart, Wegmans, National Supermarket Association, and the Community Service Society will provide families across the state with a warm, delicious meal to enjoy on Thanksgiving. I encourage all New Yorkers to find ways to offer a helping hand and give back throughout the holiday season to help those who are less fortunate and in need."

Thanks to generous food donations from Walmart, Wegmans, and the National Supermarket Association, Thanksgiving turkeys are being packaged and delivered to feed over 35,000 New Yorkers statewide.

Upstate New York-based Wegmans donated meals to feed over 1,900 New Yorkers in Western and Central New York, and New York City. Wegmans recently opened its first store in New York City, located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which donated meals to feed 500 New Yorkers.

As the nation's largest grocer, last year alone, Walmart donated more than $50,000 across the state of New York in cash and in-kind donations in the fight against hunger. Donations by Walmart helped feed over 30,000 people.

This year, New York State is proud to partner with the Community Service Society of New York to distribute turkeys and other foods statewide. The Community Service Society has worked for over 175 years to implement real solutions to help low-income New Yorkers find a path out of economic hardship. CSS works with both the public and private sectors to create real opportunity for every New Yorker so that they can take care of their families and loved ones.  

Jason Klipa, Director of Public Affairs for Walmart in New York, said, "Walmart is proud to once again partner with Governor Cuomo and the State of New York to put a little extra joy on the Thanksgiving tables of thousands of New Yorkers. While the holiday season can often remind us that there are many in need, we hope everybody can find even the smallest ways to help those who are less fortunate throughout the entire year."

Linda Lovejoy, Wegmans Community Relations Manager, said, "We're committed to reducing hunger and giving back to the communities where our customers and employees live and work. Through our continued partnership with Governor Cuomo, we're able to deliver on that commitment and help ensure families have a warm meal to gather around during this special time of year." 

Elizabeth Peralta, Executive Director, National Supermarket Association, said, "We could not be prouder to partner with Governor Cuomo. It is truly a gift for us to be able to continue to give back to the communities we serve. For the National Supermarket Association, this is only another opportunity for us to make a difference in the lives of our customers and continue to serve our mission to empower them"

David R. Jones, President and CEO of CSS, said, "The Community Service Society is proud to partner with Governor Cuomo, Walmart, Wegmans and the National Supermarket Association to deliver Thanksgiving turkeys to needy families in our city. Through our network of community based partners, CSS helps low-income New Yorkers participate in education, job training and workforce opportunities. Using this same network, and in the spirit of the season of giving, we are honored to be part of this effort to feed New Yorkers this Thanksgiving."

THE NSA TRADE SHOW 2019 NAMES "GOYA FOODS" COMPANY OF THE YEAR

THE NSA TRADE SHOW 2019 NAMES "GOYA FOODS" COMPANY OF THE YEAR

The National Supermarket Association held in New York its NSA Trade Show 2019 with a new executive director, premiering a new exhibition floor layout, promoting Dominican products under the agreement “Marca País” and recognizing Goya Foods as the Company of the Year.

The NSA Show 2019 was held on August 28 at the Resorts World Casino in New York City, with nearly 300 local and international businesses attending the show. More than one thousand visitors walked the one day show to do business and learn about new food trends and offers that are in the market.

Just a month ago, in July, Elizabeth Peralta officially took her new role as NSA Executive Director. Since then, NSA’s president, William Rodríguez, entrusted her with the mission to create a new dynamic for the 2019 NSA Show.
“William Rodriguez has guided me with great words of advice, gave me wisdom and then he gave me freedom to work organizing the show and look what we achieved, probably the biggest show in our history, I know that we are already breaking records,” Peralta said in an interview with Abasto.

Amid a festive atmosphere, with the sound of Latin music in the background, the aisles of the NSA Trade Show 2019 exhibition hall were filled with merchants and business owners of Hispanic independent supermarkets in the New York area in search of offers and good business.

As every year, the association named the Company of the Year and in the NSA Trade Show 2019 they announced that Goya Foods has won the recognition and also got the title of the best stand of the trade show.

“We believe that this recognition by the NSA is a recognition of our relationship with our customers, with our consumers and especially about what we do on a social level. From last year we have donated more than 300 thousand tons of products in the United States to help low-income communities. It is a recognition of brand, effort and tradition,” said Jesús A. Rodríguez, Goya’s Head of Sales.

NSA’s president, William Rodríguez, in a message to the attendees, highlighted the presence of “Marca País” pavilion from the Dominican Republic, the Dominican consul in New York, Carlos Castillo and the support of Marcos De León, director of the CEI-RD, and Osmar Benítez, Dominican Ministry of Agriculture.

“It is already a reality that our products are on the shelves of supermarkets that are members of the NSA and we will be very aggressive giving all the necessary help to Dominican producers and exporters and Dominican consumers, since our diaspora is the largest that exists here in New York, reaching almost one million 350 thousand inhabitants in this area,” said Consul Castillo.
On the other hand, Lesbia Brea, director of exports of the Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD) told Abasto that 17 Dominican companies participated in the “Marca País” pavilion, offering a wide variety of products from the agricultural and industrial sectors.

The CEI-RD official highlighted the support of the NSA and the growth of exports to the United States thanks to the advice they offer to entrepreneurs looking to market their products.
Associated Supermarket Group participated in the 2019 NSA trade show debuting its new corporate campaign, #ASGNewReality.  At the NSA trade show, ASG showcased its solutions for independently owned and operated stores to take advantage of the economies of scale normally available only to larger supermarket chains.

ASG’s footprint previewed its new corporate website, brought-to-life its family of banner and house brands, and showed the technology used for distribution, marketing, merchandising and promotional services. “We congratulate the National Supermarket Association for a successful trade show and commend their efforts to provide a platform for independent store owners to experience the best in class in our industry,” said Zulema Wiscovitch, Chief Administrative Officer of Associated Supermarket Group.

Likewise, the NSA Trade Show 2019 was attended by numerous companies that for the first time participated in the trade show. One of them was Nixie’s, which also made the official launch of its coffee.
“We are fortunate to be able to be here presenting our new product and we have done very well, this is the show where you want to participate,” said Nixie Espinal-Díaz, who, with her husband Rafael Díaz, started their Nixie’s coffee production company.
Both small and large and long-standing companies such as GraceKennedy-La Fe recognize the value of participating in the 2019 NSA Trade Show.

“It is tremendously important to always have contact with independent businesses that really are the heart of our business. These shows allow us to have an approach with the stores and understand what their needs are, so that from the perspective of innovation, we can give them what they are looking for,” said Andrés Falquez, Category Marketing Director at GraceKennedy Foods USA-La Fe.

THE NSA WILL LAUNCH "MARCA PAIS" CAMPAIGN

The National Supermarket Association is getting ready to launch the “Marca País” campaign in partnership with the government of the Dominican Republic, to promote Dominican products through supermarkets that are members of the NSA, on the East Coast of the United States.
In an interview with Abasto Magazine, José Geraldo, executive director of the National Supermarket Association, spoke about the trip to Santo Domingo by three NSA leaders, at the beginning of March, to attend the HUB Cámara Santo Domingo trade fair. They also had meetings with the Dominican authorities to work on the launch of the “Marca País” campaign.

More than 200 Dominican and international companies participated in the trade fair. The Centro de Exportación e Inversión de República Dominicana (Cei-RD) coordinated the participation of more than 80 international buyers in the business rounds and meetings with Dominican businessmen in order to know and acquire locally produced items.

Abasto Magazine: What was the reason for the trip to the Dominican Republic?

José Geraldo: In the Dominican Republic, an event called Hub was being organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Santo Domingo and the Cei-RD. They invited us to participate representing the Association, to give a little color to that event where the private sector encourages local companies to export.

AM: Why the trade interest of the members of the NSA with the Dominican Republic?

JG: The majority of independent store owners who are members of the NSA are of Dominican origin. Therefore, it is essential to create that business relationship between the owners of supermarkets, here in the US and the companies that produce Dominican goods, because there are approximately two million Dominicans in the United States. Most are located in the northeast and southeast of the country, in New York and Florida, so it is essential that products that are of Dominican origin are sold in our stores.

AM: What types of products are exported from the Dominican Republic and are found in your supermarkets?

JG: Day by day more Dominican products come to our markets. There are distribution companies, including large corporations such as Goya, which already manufacture products of Dominican origin, which are packaged under the name of Goya or other brands. The reality is that there are many agricultural products that the country is trying to export and that here in our stores sell very well, such as bananas, mango, avocado.

Nelson Eusebio, director of governmental affairs (left), José Geraldo, executive director (cen.) And William Rodríguez (right), national president of the NSA, during the meeting with representatives of Cei-RD. Photo courtesy of NSA.

AM: Who traveled to Santo Domingo?

JG: William Rodriguez, the national president of the NSA, Nelson Eusebio, who is the director of governmental affairs and I, as executive director, attended the trade fair.

AM: What was the NSA agenda during the fair?

JG: We had a well defined agenda, we met with several companies in the Hub but we also met with the Cei-RD, to whom we proposed our initiatives on the “Marca País” campaign, the partnership we will have with the Dominican State through the Dominican Consulate in New York.

AM: What does this association mean?

JG: The NSA supermarkets would support Dominican products that reach our stores. We would give them a specific space to support that product and in relation to that, the Dominican State would create an incentive through the Consulate in NY to promote Dominican brands. The CEI-RD will facilitate the processes to the Dominican companies so that they can export and at the same time have representation in our trade fair that we do in New York, which this year will be on August 21 at the Resort World Casino. The agreement is in the process of being finalized and it is expected that the President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, will sign it before the month of June.

NSA leaders met with the president of BHD Bank, engineer Luis Molina Achecar, and bank board members. Photo courtesy of NSA.

AM: What other meetings did you hold in Santo Domingo?

JG: We also met with the president of BHD Bank, engineer Luis Molina Achecar, we talked about several initiatives to promote Dominican culture abroad and using our business as a vehicle for promotion. At the same time, we talk about some projects in the banking industry that concerns our stores, where the Dominican community can make money transfers directly from our businesses, to their accounts and to their relatives in the Dominican Republic.

AM: What results did you achieve in this business trip?

JG: The main thing was to achieve the partnership with the Dominican State and with CEI-RD because that’s where the “Marca País” campaign came from. At the same time, the relationship we had with BHD Bank was very positive and we also met with Arroz Rico Company, which is one of the suppliers of Dominican products that we sell in our supermarkets, to strengthen commercial relationships. And we will be returning to the Dominican Republic to participate in the Agrifood Fair, which takes place from May 5 to 12. It is possible that during this trip we met with the Dominican president for the signing of the “Marca País” partnership.