Thursday, February 6, 2025

Opening of its first Oxxo store a big event for Chalchihuites, Zacatecas

Some people loathe them for allegedly having put many mom-and-pop corner stores out of business, but in Chalchihuites, Zacatecas, the opening of its first Oxxo store was cause for community celebration.

The store was inaugurated this week in an elaborate ceremony led by Mayor Laura Nava Reveles.

In a speech to mark the occasion, Nava said the opening of an Oxxo represents a big step forward.

“This will be a big benefit for our town,” she said. “In addition to offering a variety of products for sale and 24-hour service, it will allow us to make and receive bank deposits and other transactions.”

Chalchihuites is a municipality of around 10,000 people, of which 3,000 live in the municipal seat of the same name. It is located 230 kilometers from Zacatecas city, near the Durango border.

priest blesses oxxo store
God bless Oxxo.

The ceremony was also attended by a Catholic priest, who blessed the new store, which is located across from the town square.

In messages posted on Facebook, some residents thanked the local government for allowing the store to open, while others expressed concern that it would harm small grocery stores.

Oxxo, owned by the Femsa beverage company, is the largest chain of convenience stores in Latin America, with more than 18,000 locations in Mexico. The company reported opening new stores at a rate of almost four a day in 2018, a rhythm it hopes to maintain this year.

Source: El Universal (sp), El Sol de Zacatecas (sp), Forbes MĂ©xico (sp)

A calf with an ear tag stands in a field of cattle, like those waiting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border after a screwworm infection shut down exports for three months

Mexico resumes cattle exports to U.S. after screwworm scare

0
Over 200,000 cattle are waiting at the the U.S. border, which has been closed to cows since a flesh-eating cattle parasite was found in southern Mexico last November.
View of a Xochimilco chinampa across a canal

Saving Xochimilco: The battle to preserve Mexico City’s ancient canals

0
Organizations like Humedalia are working to preserve Xochimilco's traditional agriculture and stop environmental degradation from unchecked tourism.
Sheinbaum Feb. 2025

81% of Mexicans back Sheinbaum, making her the world’s second most-loved leader

4
Sheinbaum's soaring approval rating was measured before her successful negotiations with U.S. President Trump to suspend the 25% tariffs, an achievement that received widespread praise.