Supercoop, the Hogar Obrero supermarket, returned to operation with the inauguration of a store in San Telmo. What it is like inside and what it offers.
Last week, in the heart of the Buenos Aires neighborhood of San Telmo, Supercoop reopened its doors, a supermarket that was synonymous with the cooperative sector in the 80s. Located at 456 Independencia Avenue, this return was thanks to the alliance between El Hogar Obrero, a historic emblem of the sector in Argentina, and the Bahía Blanca Workers’ Cooperative.
The history of Supercoop dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, when El Hogar Obrero began its journey in 1905 with the aim of providing accessible solutions in housing, consumption and credit to workers and their families.. Over the decades, this venture grew to become one of the country’s main supermarket chains, reaching its peak in the 1980s with 300 stores in 14 provinces, 2 million members and more than 14,500 employees.. It was a pioneer in offering its own brands and supportive prices, benefiting both its associates and the rest of the community. But the impact of hyperinflation in 1989, combined with adverse economic policies and the loss of capital in the 1990s, brought the cooperative to the brink of demise. After decades of difficulties and a bankruptcy that was only resolved in 2012, El Hogar Obrero is once again betting on its iconic brand, this time with the help of the Cooperativa Obrera, which contributes its experience with more than 149 supermarkets in seven provinces.
The brand new San Telmo location was inaugurated after an investment of US$1.5 million, previously a Carrefou operated therer. When browsing the shelves, you can find a wide range that includes everything from top brands to products from cooperatives and regional companies. Besides, Supercoop maintains its tradition of own brands with more than 400 products developed by local suppliers. These brands – Cooperativa, Ecoop and Primer Precio – range from basic foods to cleaning products, with prices that are mostly much lower than the leading brands.
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For example, you can buy long-life milk for $999, empanada tapas for $980, and creamy cheese without TACC for $4,900 per kilo. In the canned section, a can of Cooperativa brand halved peaches costs $1,690, while Primer Precio tomato puree is offered for $699 and a can of peas for $594. For those looking for baked goods, a 350-gram table bread costs $1,690, and a sweet chocolate chip bread, ideal for parties, sells for $2,899. It has evenand special sections such as “Prompt Consumption”, where products close to expiration have even lower prices.
But Supercoop is not only committed to offering products, but also to strengthening its cooperative model. Joining costs just $50 and gives you access to additional discounts. Additionally, 85% of the cooperative’s profits are redistributed among its members in the form of annual bonuses.
The key fact is that Hogar Obrero currently has several buildings with the potential to reopen as a supermarket and the association with the Cooperativa Obrero de Bahía Blanca, a strong retail firm in the interior of the country, opens a great possibility of expansion for both companies.
The truth is that the reopening of Supercoop not only evokes nostalgia among those who remember its glory years, but also represents a different business model. With its motto of offering “supportive and responsible prices”, it seeks to once again become a reliable alternative in a market dominated by large chains.
Source: Ambito
