Toys “R” Us includes Guatemala in 60-store expansion plan

Guatemala is one of six markets included in Cotton Candy International’s (CCI) plan to open 60 Toys “R” Us stores across Central America and the Caribbean over five years. The announcement, reported by Diario Financiero on 28 September 2026, sets out a regional expansion under the corporate campaign ‘Geoffrey Looks for a Home’, although the available information does not specify how many stores will be in Guatemala.

A regional project with Guatemala on the map

The markets named in the announcement are the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The figure of 60 stores covers all six markets over the full five-year period: it is neither a target for Guatemala alone nor a count of stores already opened.

This distinction is important when assessing the scale of the news. The announcement concerns a programme of future openings, not a record of completed operations. Nor can it be assumed that each market will receive the same number of stores, as the information provided does not include a country-by-country breakdown.

For Guatemala’s franchise community, the key point is the country’s explicit inclusion in CCI’s project. This identifies a commercial initiative that includes Guatemala, but does not yet establish its local scope in terms of locations, timing or investment.

What the announcement confirms and what remains unclear

The published information confirms four specific points: Cotton Candy International announced the plan; the brand involved is Toys “R” Us; the regional target is 60 stores; and the stated timeframe is five years. It also names the markets and the corporate campaign.

However, the material reviewed does not specify cities, shopping centres, retail floor areas or opening dates for Guatemala. Nor does it provide investment figures, recruitment forecasts or the order in which the company plans to enter the markets listed.

These gaps do not contradict the announcement, but they limit what can be said about it. For now, this information provides no basis for identifying the first Guatemalan location, when it might open or how many jobs it might create. Presenting any of those details as confirmed would go beyond what has been published.

The five-year timeframe should also be understood as part of the announced plan. It is not a detailed implementation schedule for each country.

How the franchise community should interpret the news

A brand’s inclusion in a regional expansion plan may prompt questions among entrepreneurs, operators and commercial property owners. However, the available announcement does not specify the contractual model CCI will use in Guatemala, nor does it invite local franchisees to apply.

For that reason, this news should not be presented as a franchise opportunity open to the public. Store expansion and an opportunity to invest in a franchise are different matters; linking the two would require further information about the terms of participation and the operating structure.

The same caution applies to potential suppliers or business partners. The reference to Guatemala identifies it as a market under consideration, but does not confirm selection processes, contracting requirements or agreements with local businesses. Anyone considering involvement should distinguish between the scope of the corporate announcement and any specific commercial proposal they receive.

The indicators that will help track local progress

To monitor the project in Guatemala, the next relevant details would be confirmed locations, planned opening dates and the number of stores allocated to the country. These would make it possible to move from a regional target to a concrete assessment of local implementation.

It would also be useful to know the store format and operating model. Neither point is settled in the available material, so they should remain questions for follow-up rather than be treated as established features of the project.

Practical takeaway: Guatemala is included in the announced Toys “R” Us plan, but the 60 stores are a regional target. Before assessing an investment or commercial agreement, it is advisable to wait for verifiable details about the Guatemalan operation and its terms.