Disco (supermarket chain)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (supermarket) |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Area served | Argentina (Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa Fe) |
| Products | Supermarket goods |
| Owner | Cencosud |
| Parent | Cencosud |
Disco is a supermarket chain originating from Argentina and has been under the ownership of the Chilean retail group Cencosud since its purchase from the Dutch company Ahold in 2004. Within Argentina, Cencosud also manages the premium hypermarket brand Jumbo as well as the economy-focused supermarket chain Vea.
As of , Disco operated a total of 76 outlets situated in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santa Fe.
History
The first Supermercados Disco store was inaugurated in 1961 on Centenario Avenue located in San Isidro, Buenos Aires. In 1967, a family from Uruguay acquired half of Disco’s shares, eventually obtaining full ownership by 1981 and maintaining control until 1984.
Throughout the 1960s, Disco was a competitor to prominent Argentine supermarket chains including Norte, Gigante, and Tía. In 1997, Disco expanded by purchasing the Vea supermarket chain for US$210 million, positioning itself as the second-largest food retailer in Argentina after Carrefour. At that period, Uruguayan company Velox Holdings was the principal shareholder; Velox also owned the Chilean chain Santa Isabel, which was later absorbed into Cencosud.
In early 1998, Dutch retailer Royal Ahold acquired a 25% share in Disco along with an 18.5% stake in Santa Isabel from Velox, creating Disco-Ahold International. During that year, Ahold increased its investment by buying the remaining 48% for US$160 million and privatizing the company.
After Ahold’s accounting scandal surfaced in 2003, Disco’s executive team stepped down amid rumors of a potential sale. The following year, Chilean retail leader Cencosud purchased Disco for US$315 million, enhancing its footprint in Argentina alongside its other holdings such as Jumbo and home improvement retailer Easy.
Beginning in 2007, Cencosud initiated the conversion of several Disco stores into the budget-oriented Súper Vea format to strengthen competitiveness in lower-income areas. At that time, Disco operated approximately 120 outlets. By 2018, the chain maintained 76 stores primarily across Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santa Fe provinces.