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Hispanic-oriented supermarkets in Las Vegas, long a sorry endless growth, have met turbulence.
Supermercado del Pueblo, which started more than 15 years ago, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April. It will shrink from four stores to one. Before that, Los Compadres and Viva Ranch both closed individual outlets.
At the same time, Cardenas Markets and El Super, both based in the Los Angeles area and substantially larger than any of the locals, have entered this market and expect to expand.
"Cardenas is overwhelming the market," said Otto Merida, president of the Latin Chamber of Commerce. "This has forced the other groceries into selling cheaper and putting more time and effort into their marketing:
Ontario, Calif.-based Cardenas, with 28 storm overall, opened its first two Las Vegas locations last year and has leased two additional properties. It has brought with it a format that combines familiar American brands and Latin tastes on the store floor with a purchasing and distribution system designed to leverage its size and cut wars.
As a result, Cardenas executives say they see a market consolidation beginning.
"Las Vegas...