Mexican Retailer Famsa Starts to Convert La Canasta's Stores

Headnote

HISPANIC: April acquisition boosts Southland operation

Expect more stores here from Mexico's Grupo Famsa SA de CV come fall.

The Monterrey-based company, which runs the Famsa furniture, electronics and appliances chain in Mexico and the U.S., is adding nine stores after buying Corona-based La Canasta Furnishings Inc. earlier this year.

The company bought La Canasta in April for $37 million.

Famsa plans to convert La Canasta's nine stores in Orange and Los Angeles counties, the Inland Empire and three stores in Texas to its name by October.

The La Canasta brand, familiar to Hispanics across the county, is fading out, said Federico Uribe, director of marketing for Famsa, which has its U.S. headquarters in Santa Fe Springs.

Across the Southland, Famsa banners are being tacked up over La Canasta signs. The stores are being painted and decorated in Famsa style in the next month.

La Canasta's former Corona headquarters has been converted to a...