The retraction did not impact all areas in the same way. According to Acuña, in neighborhoods with greater purchasing power as Recoleta either Belgrano The fall between 5% and 10%. However, in middle class sectors such as Horse, Flowers either Villa Urquiza The descent climbed to 30%and in the south of the city and the conurbano “directly say that almost nothing is sold”
Acuña compared the current moment with that of the ’90s warehouses. “You have to go back to the times before 2001 to meet this that people have no money”He said. He added that The government has “abandoned” the sectorso they demand a proximity law that limits the installation of large chains with small shops.
Is that the expansion of kiosk franchises oligopolicalso strongly impacted those medium and small premisesin all areas of AMBA.
Fixed expenses as unsustainable load
The crisis is not only measured in low sales. The fixed costs shot and put the kiosks against the strings. “Fixed expenses, light, expenses, rentals, for a miserable sale are very high because people have no money to consume“, held Kaly Simmons, Porteño microcentro kiosk.
Simmons, who had shops in Villa Crespo And other areas of the center, he described this moment as “The worst time for trade“He said that the fall in sales” was in minced “and that customers focus almost exclusively on promotions such as the “3×2” in alfajores or in economic cigarettes.
In the kiosks, the cigarettes They are still the best -selling product. “It is the heart of our business, never stop selling. But we do notice that they go to national economic brands,” said Acuña. Drinks also maintain their exit, although with the same replacement pattern by second brands or aggressive promotions.
Is that, beyond the fall in sales, the kiosks face a structure of fixed expenses that “does not take respite”, even in the fallen months of billing. He rent of the premises, the service invoices such as light, water, gas, internet and telephone, the payment of municipal taxes or monotaxand the wages If there are personnel hired, they are part of a scheme that is repeated month by month regardless of how much it is sold.
To these costs are added Insurance for the premises, merchandise or civil liability, and security expenses as alarms or cameras, which in many cases are essential. The Merchandise replacement It also remains a constant commitment to sustain the stock, as well as electronic sales commissions through POSNET.
In certain items, there are expenses that are triggered in specific times. In summer, for example, the electricity It becomes an important weight due to the intensive use of frosts and exhibitors. The Virtual charges And cell phone recharges, although they generate movement, involve commissions that reduce gain.
Even the process of municipal authorization And the payment of associated taxes can represent a considerable figure, depending on the local location and regulations. As the UKRA summarizes, the sum of these factors means that, even with open blinds, many kiosks work at the limit of profitability.
The impact of habits changes
The UKRA points out that the opening of wholesalers to the final consumer, previously reserved for merchants, generated a clientele displacement. “Today you go to a wholesaler and buy the same as in a kiosk, but cheaper and in quantity”, Explained Acuña.
In addition, they denounce that businesses without specific qualification sell sweets or drinks, which they consider unfair competition. They propose that Loose sweets They are again exclusive to the kiosk, as a way of preserving their traditional role.
SUPERMERCADOS INFACCADOS Consumption wholesale
Reuters
Two -speed consumption
The collapse of the kiosks occurs in a context of Generalized increase in closed premises. A survey of the Argentine Chamber of Commerce and Services (CAC) registered in May-June 2025 a 40% more empty stores in the city of Buenos Aires as in the same period of the previous year.
Regarding the previous bimester, the number of premises without activity rose a 12.3%. The trend reflects a persistent deterioration of retail trade, especially in daily consumption.
While sectors such as automotive, construction or real estate market show recovery signals, the Mass consumption still without taking off. According to NIELSEN IQin July alcoholic beverages 0.6% fell and basic foods dropped 3.3%.
In the SupermarketsMay sales rose 6.1% year -on -year, but 1.2% fell compared to April. Wholesale self -service registered a decrease of 4.9% year -on -year. These data show a fragmented pattern, with more purchases of durable goods and less of daily consumption.
Claims to governments
“What we ask the governments, both national and district, is to take action on the matter and collaborate so that the neighborhood kiosk does not disappear”Acuña emphasized. Among the proposals are more strict controls to premises without qualification and regulations that avoid the installation of large chains next to small businesses.
Simmons agreed: “The kiosks close because there is no way to endure”For her, Low sales combination and high fixed expenses It makes business continuity unfeasible.
The image of the kiosk as neighborhood meeting pointwith its counter full of sweets and the refused refrigerator, it faces today a real threat. With fall sales, rising expenses and competition more unequal, merchants warn that, No concrete measuresthe item could follow the path of traditional stores and disappear from the daily life of AMBA.
Source: Ambito
