| Central American Retail Holding Company |
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Central American Retail Holding Company (CARHCO) was formed in 2001 with equal investment from the major shareholder of ''La Fragua S.A.'', of Guatemala, ''Corporación de Supermercados Unidos S.A.'' (CSU) of Costa Rica, and Royal Ahold. CARHCO has three operative companies: ''La Fragua'', founded in Guatemala in 1928 by Carlos Paiz Ayala; CSU, founded in Costa Rica in 1960 by Enrique Uribe Pages; and ''Corporación de Compañías Agroindustriales'' (CCA), a supplier to CARHCO of meat and seafood, fruit, grain, vegetables and bakery products. As of February 28, ''La Fragua'' operated 217 stores in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Its formats include ''Paiz, Hiper Paiz, Despensa Familiar, Club Co, La Despensa de Don Juan'' and ''Maxi Bodega''. CSU operated 160 stores in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Formats include ''Más X Menos, Hiper Más, Palí, La Unión'' and ''Maxi Bodega''. CCA works throughout the agricultural sector sourcing and distributing fruit, vegetables and grain purchased from more than 1,000 small producers in Costa Rica and other Central American countries. It produces breads and pastries and processes and distributes beef, pork and seafood products from hundreds of small suppliers. CCA participates in the poultry industry through more than 450 small independent producers and develops private label grocery and health and beauty aid products, working with local and regional industries. In September 2005, Wal-Mart Stores acquired 33.3% shares of CARHCO. In March 2006, Wal-Mart announced it had increased its holding to 51%, and renamed CARHCO, making it "Wal-Mart Central America." |